3rd place showing for CBS in ratings is evidence of viewer impatience with reruns

NEW YORK, N.Y. - CBS isn't used to finishing as low as third place in the weekly television ratings. There's a lesson in there, though.

TV's most popular network finished behind ABC and NBC in the Nielsen company's viewership measurements last week and it's primarily because its rivals aired more fresh programming. Even in the warm-weather months, TV fans know they have choices and have less tolerance for reruns than in days gone by.

The finales of "Dancing With the Stars," ''Modern Family" and "The Middle" boosted ABC to its first weekly win since last June, with the exception of Oscars week.

The History channel miniseries on World Wars I and II reached 3.4 million people for its opening episode on Memorial Day.