CBS has dominated the 2009-10 television season so far when it comes to non-news, non-event, first-run programming. But is this a streak that will continue?

Of the first 18 weeks of the season, CBS has won 14 of them, many handedly. The network is averaging a 7.2 rating/12 share in an average of overnights each week, well ahead of ABC's 5.7/9, and has yet to have a single show finish below the 4.0 household rating mark, a claim that no other network can make this season. Not even close.

Through all that, Fox has lingered in fourth place, mostly thanks to its weak Friday schedule that has numbers putting it in competition with The CW. So far, it has managed only a 3.8/6 this season, but could that change?

"American Idol" returns this week, and not only does it have the continued benefit of being a powerhouse reality program for Fox, it has the added interest in its newest judge, Ellen DeGeneres, who replaces former pop star Paula Abdul this season.

Fox also will say good-bye to "Dollhouse" ahead of February sweeps, removing a show that has contributed to drastic declines in its overall weekly rating, that should help solidify its weekly numbers even more.

CBS does not have a schedule to sneeze at, however. It has pounded through week after week, led by its megahit shows "NCIS" and "NCIS: Los Angeles," which are averaging a combined 11.2/18 in overnights, and is only broken up by "Dancing With the Stars" in the top five of the season.

"NCIS" and "NCIS: Los Angeles" fueled CBS to yet another win this past week with a 12.9/20 and a 10.9/17, leading a short week for the network. ABC had six shows in the expanded top 10, which included three shows tied for the final slot, but finished tied with NBC with a 4.5/7 thanks to seven shows finishing below a 3.0 household rating, topped off with "Better Off Ted."

NBC had a bit of a stronger week, thanks to the return of "Biggest Loser," and the best outing of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" this season, its 7.0/11 blowing away its previous season best of a 6.1/9 on Oct. 21.

Fox had a very limited regular program schedule with just five shows, all -- except "Dollhouse" on Friday -- on Sunday night. It finished the week with a 3.6/6 heading into its "American Idol" debut.

Top 10 Network Shows, Week of Jan. 3 -- [Audience Loyalty Index rating]
1. NCIS (CBS) -- 12.9/20 -- [94.6]
2. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) -- 10.9/17 -- [91.9]
3. Desperate Housewives (ABC) -- 9.2/14 -- [93.5]
4. The Good Wife (CBS) -- 9.0/15 -- [94.6]
5. The Biggest Loser (NBC) -- 7.3/11 -- [70.5]
6. Brothers & Sisters (ABC) -- 7.1/12 -- [90.3]
7. Law & Order: SVU (NBC) -- 7.0/11 -- [81.4]
8. The Bachelor (ABC) -- 6.6/10 -- [97.0]
8. The Biggest Loser (NBC) -- 6.6/10 -- [75.7]
10. The Bachelor (ABC) -- 6.1/9 -- [97.0]
10. Modern Family (ABC) -- 6.1/9 -- [70.0]
10. Extreme Makeover (ABC) -- 6.1/9 -- [86.1]

Top Networks, Week of Jan. 3 -- [ALI]
1. CBS -- 8.3/13 -- [64.3]
2. ABC -- 4.5/7 -- [48.9]
2. NBC -- 4.5/7 -- [61.6]
4. Fox -- 3.6/6 -- [76.6]

Top 10 Network Shows, Season
1. (1) NCIS (CBS) -- 12.2/19
2. (2) Dancing With the Stars (ABC) -- 11.6/17
3. (3) Dancing With the Stars (ABC) -- 11.1/17
4. (4) NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) -- 10.2/16
5. (5) Dancing With the Stars (ABC) -- 9.8/16
6. (6) The Mentalist (CBS) -- 9.7/17
7. (7) Dancing With the Stars (ABC) -- 9.7/15
8. (8) CSI (CBS) -- 9.6/15
9. (9) Grey's Anatomy (ABC) -- 9.5/15
10. (10) The Good Wife (CBS) -- 8.7/15

Top Networks, Season
1. (1) CBS -- 7.2/12
2. (2) ABC -- 5.7/9
3. (3) NBC -- 4.2/7
4. (4) Fox -- 3.8/6
5. (5) The CW -- 1.7/3

Data collected from The Nielsen Co., as distributed by Zap2it. BlipNetwork tracks non-news, non-event programming, and figures for this story reflect airing of new episodes only. For more information on the Audience Loyalty Index, click here.