Fox has emerged the leader of the ratings race in the US with strong ratings for House and American Idol.

The medical drama reached new heights with a record 24.5 million viewers on Tuesday night. The series is sustaining its success, this being its sixth record in three months.

American Idol also continued to score well, achieving 28.7m viewers.

Fox and ABC are still head-to-head in figures for the whole 2005-6 season, which finishes at the end of May. These figures set the former in good stead however, as new House episodes are on their way and American Idolcontinues.

The last four weeks in the US television year are known as "the May sweeps" – broadcasters' last chance to boost audiences.