nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, november 7, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (9.30 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) rose to the top spot with a special Wednesday edition of "The Voice" (10.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) followed by a new "Chicago Fire" (7.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T9) - a series high.

ABC (8.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "The Middle" (9.10 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5), "The Neighbors" (6.98 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11), "Modern Family" (12.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1), "Suburgatory" (7.64 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4) and "Nashville" (6.01 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.0, #12).

Next up was CBS (10.86 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with originals from "Survivor: Philippines" (10.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T6), "Criminal Minds" (12.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.31 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T9).

Meanwhile, FOX (6.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) fell to fourth place despite new episodes of "The X Factor" (6.92 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.5, #8) and "The X Factor" (7.06 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T6).

And finally, new episodes of "Arrow" (3.69 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #13) - matching its series high - and "Supernatural" (2.32 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) - equalling its season high - on The CW (3.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 1.1 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Supernatural" a 0.9 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+53.33% - Chicago Fire
+30.00% - Arrow
+20.83% - Suburgatory
+16.67% - The Neighbors
+14.63% - Modern Family
+12.50% - Survivor: Philippines
+12.00% - The Middle (vs. 10/24/12)
+11.11% - Nashville
+11.11% - Supernatural
+4.17% - The X Factor - 8:00
+3.45% - Criminal Minds
0.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-3.57% - The X Factor - 9:00

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+164.29% - The Voice (vs. Up All Night/Up All Night (Repeat)/Harry's Law)
+160.00% - Arrow (vs. America's Next Top Model (Repeat))
+25.00% - Supernatural (vs. America's Next Top Model)
+21.05% - Chicago Fire (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
-2.08% - Modern Family (vs. The 45th Annual CMA Awards)
-8.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-11.76% - Criminal Minds
-12.90% - Survivor: Philippines
-30.56% - The X Factor - 8:00
-32.50% - The X Factor - 9:00
-39.58% - Suburgatory (vs. The 45th Annual CMA Awards)
-41.67% - The Middle (vs. The 45th Annual CMA Awards)
-56.25% - The Neighbors (vs. The 45th Annual CMA Awards)
-58.33% - Nashville (vs. The 45th Annual CMA Awards)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/6 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/5 in metered-market households and a 0.5/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/9/11):

ABC (16.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1) surged in front on Wednesday with its coverage of "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" (16.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1).

FOX (10.14 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "The X Factor" (9.85 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and a second "The X Factor" (10.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2).

Next up was CBS (10.66 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) with new episodes of "Survivor: South Pacific" (10.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #5), "Criminal Minds" (11.31 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #4) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.09 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.95 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up its mix of "Up All Night" (4.79 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8), a repeat of "Up All Night" (3.51 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10), "Harry's Law" (7.06 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #9) and, with a series low among adults 18-49, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.64 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7).

And finally, an encore of "America's Next Top Model" (0.98 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.65 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11) on The CW (1.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Top Model" posted a 0.8 rating at 8:00/7:00c and a 1.3 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+18.18% - Harry's Law
0.00% - Up All Night
0.00% - America's Next Top Model
-2.44% - The X Factor - 9:00
-2.70% - The X Factor - 8:00
-5.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-5.56% - Criminal Minds
-7.41% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-11.43% - Survivor: South Pacific

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Up All Night (vs. Undercovers)
+44.00% - The X Factor - 8:00 (vs. Hell's Kitchen)
+38.89% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. The Defenders)
+37.93% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. Hell's Kitchen)
+13.33% - Criminal Minds
+11.76% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Law & Order: Los Angeles)
-3.13% - Survivor: South Pacific
-11.11% - America's Next Top Model (vs. Hellcats)
-35.00% - Harry's Law (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.8/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/6 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/5 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research