nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, august 26, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals for FOX (from 7-7:30p) and NBC (for the night) are approximate.]

NBC (7.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) took home top honors on Sunday with its coverage of the "Madden NFL 13 Pigskin Pro-Am" (4.33 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8) and "NFL Preseason: Carolina at N.Y. Jets" (8.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1).

The silver then went to FOX (4.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (5.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T3) "The Cleveland Show" (2.87 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9), "The Simpsons" (3.80 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #7), another "The Simpsons" (3.94 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6), "Family Guy" (4.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T3) and another "Family Guy" (4.10 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #5).

Next up was CBS (6.40 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) and its combination of "60 Minutes" (8.43 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9), "Big Brother 14" (7.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2), "The Good Wife" (4.34 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) and "The Mentalist" (5.51 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12).

And finally, repeats of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.34 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9), "Once Upon a Time" (3.23 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) and "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" (2.48 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) on ABC (3.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+9.09% - 60 Minutes
+8.70% - Big Brother 14

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - 60 Minutes (vs. 60 Minutes (Repeat))
-13.79% - Big Brother 14

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/28/11):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals for NBC are approximate.]

NBC (7.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday with its mix of "NFL '12 Pigskin Pro-Am" (4.19 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8), "NFL Preseason Pre-Game" (8.17 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) and "NFL Preseason: Saints/Raiders" (8.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1).

ABC (5.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then snagged a distant second with its lineup of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.34 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (5.54 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7) and "20/20: The Sixth Sense" (5.98 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4).

Next up was CBS (5.94 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with its combination of "60 Minutes" (7.90 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11), "Big Brother 13" (7.75 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1), "The Good Wife" (3.71 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #16) and "CSI: Miami" (4.42 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13).

And finally, repeats of "American Dad" (1.77 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13), "Bob's Burgers" (1.83 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13), "The Simpsons" (2.73 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9), "The Cleveland Show" (2.58 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9) and "Family Guy" (3.22 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5) led into a new "In The Flow with Affion Crockett" (2.06 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) on FOX (2.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Big Brother 13 (-12.1%), In The Flow with Affion Crockett (-16.7%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research