nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, october 3, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (15.26 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) steamrolled the competition last night thanks to its "Sunday Night Football" (18.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 7.1, #2) coverage. Leading off the night was its usual mix of "Football Night in America #1" (5.98 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 2.0, #17), "Football Night in America #2" (8.36 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T11) and "Football Night in America #3" (14.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.3, #3).

Second place then went to FOX (9.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2) with its combination of "NFL Overrun" (18.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.6, #1), "The OT" (9.93 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 4.3, #T4), "The Simpsons" (8.59 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 4.1, #6), "The Cleveland Show" (6.65 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T11), "Family Guy" (7.94 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 3.9, #8) and the return of "American Dad" (6.05 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 2.9, #14).

Next up was CBS (12.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) with new episodes of "60 Minutes" (12.48 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #16), "The Amazing Race 17" (10.73 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.3, #9), "Undercover Boss" (13.08 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.0, #7) and the relocated "CSI: Miami" (11.84 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.2, #10).

And finally on ABC (9.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4), the season premiere of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.06 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.8, #18) followed by new episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8.63 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.5, #15), "Desperate Housewives" (13.05 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.3, #T4) and "Brothers & Sisters" (9.27 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.0, #13) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Undercover Boss (11.10%), The Simpsons (10.80%), Sunday Night Football (9.20%), Desperate Housewives (2.40%), The Cleveland Show (0.00%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (0.00%), Brothers & Sisters (0.00%), Family Guy (-9.30%), The Amazing Race 17 (-10.80%), 60 Minutes (-36.40%).

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/4/09):

NBC (14.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.6, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday thanks to its coverage of "Sunday Night Football" (15.39 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.2, #2). Leading into said coverage were the pre-game specials "Football Night in America #1 & #2" (7.40 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 2.9, #12) and "Football Night in America #3" (13.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.2, #3).

The silver then went to FOX (10.71 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.8, #2) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (19.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.6, #1), "The OT" (10.19 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.2, #T7), "The Simpsons" (9.32 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 4.3, #6), "The Cleveland Show" (8.70 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 4.2, #T7), "Family Guy" (9.67 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 4.9, #T4) and "American Dad" (7.06 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 3.5, #9).

Next up was ABC (10.91 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) with the return of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.98 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15) followed by new episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (11.70 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #10), "Desperate Housewives" (14.27 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.9, #T4) and "Brothers & Sisters" (9.61 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.2, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "60 Minutes" (12.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #14) and "The Amazing Race 15" (9.95 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.8, #13) lead into the premiere of "Three Rivers" (9.17 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.0, #17) and a new "Cold Case" (9.69 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15) on CBS (10.44 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4).

Source: Nielsen Media Research