"NCIS" topped "American Idol" in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 in the common hour for the first time ever, while "NCIS: Los Angeles" delivered a larger audience in the common hour  than "Idol" for the first time, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Tuesday, March 5.

"NCIS" was first in households (12.6/19), viewers (20.35m), adults 25-54 (5.1/13) and adults 18-49 (3.3/10) at 8:00 PM. "NCIS" beat NBC, ABC, FOX (with “American Idol”) and CW combined by +320,000 viewers (vs. 20.03m). "NCIS" posted more than 20 million viewers live plus same day for the last seven first-run episodes.  "NCIS" beat an "American Idol" broadcast in their common hour for the first time ever in both adults 25-54 (+0.9 rtg pt) and adults 18-49 (+0.1 rtg pt) and by the largest margin ever in viewers (+9.46m). "NCIS" was the night's #1 program in viewers and adults 25-54.

"NCIS: Los Angeles" was first in households (9.8/15), viewers (15.95m) and second in both adults 25-54 (4.2/10) and adults 18-49 (2.8/07). "NCIS: Los Angeles" beat an “American Idol” broadcast in their common hour for the first time ever in households (+2.5 rating points) and viewers (+3.85m) and was in its closest competitive position in both adults 25-54 (-0.4 rating point) and adults 18-49 (-0.7 rating point).

At 10:00 PM, "Golden Boy" was first in households (6.1/10), viewers (9.27m), adults 25-54 (2.5/06) and adults 18-49 (1.6/05).

For the night, CBS was first in households (9.5/15), viewers (15.19m) and second in both adults 25-54 (3.9/09) and adults 18-49 (2.6/07). 

Updated Tuesday ratings will be available later today.

SOURCE: CBS