CBS Supplants ABC As No. 1

NEW YORK — CBS regained its customary top spot in the ratings last week after relinquishing the crown to ABC the week before.

For the 16th time in 17 weeks, CBS was the most-watched network in prime time, according to Nielsen Media Research. Claiming half of the week’s Top 10 entries, CBS had the top-ranked show: the AFC divisional playoff game between New England and Denver.

ABC, with such powerhouses as “Desperate Housewives” (the week’s No. 2 show), “Lost” (No. 3), “Grey’s Anatomy” (5th) and “Dancing with the Stars” (7th), was the second-place network for the week.

For the week, CBS averaged 14.9 million viewers, while ABC had 11.7 million viewers, Fox had 10.3 million and NBC had 9.2 million. Univision finished fifth with 4.3 million viewers, the WB had 3.5 million, UPN had 2.9 million and Pax TV had 500,000.

NBC’s “Nightly News” dominated the evening news ratings during the first full week with ABC co-anchors Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff. NBC averaged 10 million viewers, ABC’s “World News Tonight” had 8.9 million and “CBS Evening News” had 8 million.

For the seven-day period ending Sunday, the top 10 shows were:

1. AFC Divisional Playoff: New England at Denver, CBS, 26.3 million viewers.

2. “Desperate Housewives,” ABC, 22.5 million.

3. “Lost,” ABC, 20.6 million.

4. “CSI: Miami,” CBS, 20.1 million.

5. “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, 19 million.

6. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 17.8 million.

7. “Dancing With the Stars,” ABC, 17.4 million.

8. “Two and a Half Men,” CBS, 17.2 million.

9. “NCIS,” CBS, 17.2 million.

10. “24″ Preview Special (8 p.m.), Fox, 17 million.