NBC beats Fox; CBS towers

Thanks in large part to series finales for “Friends” and “Frasier,” NBC has edged out Fox in the May sweeps ratings for young-adult viewers, while CBS remains America’s most-watched network.

Both NBC and CBS also are expected to notch victories in those respective categories for the entire 2003-04 season, which officially ends tonight.

The battle between NBC and Fox grew heated this month, as NBC built much of its schedule around the “Friends” signoff and Fox expanded the number of hours devoted to its smash “American Idol,” which will crown a new winner tonight.

The May sweeps help determine the rates that local stations charge advertisers.

NBC will end the sweeps up 2% compared with last year in the crucial 18- to 49-year-old demographic, followed by Fox, CBS and ABC, according to network projections.

CBS, meanwhile, is leading among total viewers for the season to date through Sunday, followed by NBC, Fox and ABC.

Scott Collins