nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, september 29, 2010)

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

CBS (12.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with new episodes of "Survivor: Nicaragua" (12.16 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3), "Criminal Minds" (14.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) and "The Defenders" (10.38 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #9).

A silver medal then went to FOX (6.31 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) with week two of "Hell's Kitchen" (6.00 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.8, #7) and a second hour of "Hell's Kitchen" (6.62 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4).

Next up was NBC (8.95 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with new episodes of "Undercovers" (7.08 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.25 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.7, #8) followed by the premiere of "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (10.52 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4).

Meanwhile, ABC (7.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) was out of the hunt with its mix of "The Middle" (8.33 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #10), "Better With You" (7.06 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11), "Modern Family" (11.88 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1), "Cougar Town" (7.07 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and "The Whole Truth" (4.69 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T13).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (2.91 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T13) and "Hellcats" (2.25 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) on The CW (2.58 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): America's Next Top Model (0.00%), Hell's Kitchen (0.00%), The Middle (-7.70%), Modern Family (-10.00%), Criminal Minds (-10.00%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (-10.00%), Hellcats (-10.00%), Cougar Town (-12.10%), The Defenders (-13.80%), Survivor: Nicaragua (-15.00%), Better With You (-16.00%), The Whole Truth (-18.80%), Undercovers (-23.80%).

In late-night metered market ratings, NBC's "Leno" (3.3/9) took top honors over ABC's "Nightline" (2.6/6) and CBS's "Letterman" (2.7/7). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.3/4) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.4/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.5/5) and "Daly" (0.9/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/30/09):

CBS (11.20 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T1) shared top honors on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.20 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #13), "Gary Unmarried" (7.08 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10), "Criminal Minds" (13.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #T2) and "CSI: NY" (12.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5).

Also leading the adults 18-49 charge was FOX (6.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T1) with new episodes of "So You Think You Can Dance" (6.66 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.7, #6) and "Glee" (7.32 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4).

Next up was ABC (8.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) with the premieres of "Hank" (8.46 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #11) and "The Middle" (8.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7) followed by week two of "Modern Family" (9.91 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1), "Cougar Town" (9.14 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #T2) and "Eastwick" (6.62 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up new episodes of "Mercy" (7.35 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #12), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.90 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7) and "The Jay Leno Show" (5.99 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.9, #14).

And finally, a new "America's Next Top Model" (3.31 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.6, #15) lead into a repeat of "Melrose Place" (1.08 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.6, #16) on The CW (2.19 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research