ABC edged out NBC on Tuesday to take the top broadcast network spot in adults 18 to 49, helped by one of the two top-rated network programs of the night: reality series “Dancing With the Stars.”

At 8 p.m. (ET), the 90-minute “Dancing” scored a 5.2 preliminary national rating in the adult demographic, a number that includes live viewing plus same-day viewing via digital video recorders, according to Nielsen Media Research. That tied NBC’s 10 p.m. drama “Law & Order: SVU,” which eclipsed its time period competition, ABC’s “Boston Legal” (2.9) and CBS’s new drama “Smith” (2.8).

NBC’s 9 p.m. drama “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” was the top broadcast competitor at 9 p.m. with a 4.2 rating in adults 18 to 49, edging out CBS’s “The Unit” (4.1) and ABC’s new comedy “Help Me Help You” at 9:30 p.m. (3.1). The season premiere of “Veronica Mars” on The CW scored a 1.4 in adults 18 to 49, on par with its Wednesday premiere last season on UPN. “Veronica” was down 6 percent from its year-ago number in adults 18 to 34 (1.7).

CBS’s “NCIS” was second to “Dancing” at 8 p.m. with a 4.0, followed by the series debut of NBC’s football drama “Friday Night Lights,” which scored a 2.7 in adults 18 to 49. That was down 10 percent from the Sept. 2005 premiere of “the Biggest Loser” in the time period (3.0).

The CW’s “Gilmore Girls” scored a 2.0 in adults 18 to 49, even with its season premiere performance last week. In adults 18 to 34 “Gilmore” garnered a 2.2, also even with its premiere ratings.

On Fox, game one of the postseason baseball playoff series between the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees scored a 2.5 rating in adults 18 to 49.

ABC was the top broadcaster Tuesday in adults 18 to 49 with a 4.1, followed by NBC (4.0), CBS (3.6), Fox (2.5) and The CW (1.7).