1.   The next sweeps period is even worse.

2.   All told, the strategy has been just successful enough to hold the line on prime-time viewership during the just-ended sweeps period.

3.   And for the first time, rather than ending in September, the clangorous campaigns will continue through October and into the important November sweeps ratings period.

4.   A year ago, CBS actually won the November sweeps period in overall households.

5.   After that comes the World Series and a week later the November sweeps period begins.

6.   Both of those blockbusters just happened to air during sweeps periods when ratings are measured for local stations.

7.   But suddenly, television is having its grayest May sweeps period in years.

8.   But there are still monthlong sweeps periods, those more or less quarterly ratings races that determine what can be charged for commercials.

9.   But today, television is having its grayest May ratings sweeps period in years with icons from the past being placed in the choicest time slots.

10.   CBS is counting on the star-studded, eight-hour mini-series to crush the competition during the November ratings sweeps period.