nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, october 6, 2010)

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

FOX (6.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T1) and CBS (11.62 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T1) split adults 18-49 honors on Wednesday as the former offered up new episodes of "Hell's Kitchen" (6.22 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and a second "Hell's Kitchen" (7.03 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4).

The Eye then offered up its mix of "Survivor: Nicaragua" (11.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2), "Criminal Minds" (13.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) and "The Defenders" (9.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11).

Next up was ABC (7.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with fresh installments of "The Middle" (7.97 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8), "Better With You" (6.89 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10), "Modern Family" (11.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1), "Cougar Town" (7.20 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.1, #5) and "The Whole Truth" (4.53 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up new episodes of "Undercovers" (6.24 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7) and week two of "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (8.23 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8).

And finally, new installments of "America's Next Top Model" (2.85 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14) and "Hellcats" (2.16 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) on The CW (2.51 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Better With You (9.50%), The Whole Truth (7.70%), Cougar Town (6.90%), Hell's Kitchen (6.90%), Survivor: Nicaragua (5.90%), Modern Family (0.00%), The Middle (0.00%), America's Next Top Model (0.00%), Hellcats (0.00%), Criminal Minds (-2.80%), Undercovers (-6.30%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (-7.40%), The Defenders (-16.00%), Law & Order: Los Angeles (-22.60%).

In late-night metered market ratings, NBC's "Leno" (3.1/8) took top honors over ABC's "Nightline" (2.8/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (2.4/6). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.2/4) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.3/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.6/6) and "Daly" (1.0/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/7/09):

CBS (10.89 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T1) was the network to beat on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.27 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #10), "Gary Unmarried" (7.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8), "Criminal Minds" (13.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) and "CSI: NY" (11.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5).

Sharing the adults 18-49 crown was FOX (6.74 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T1) with fresh installments of "So You Think You Can Dance" (6.18 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7) and "Glee" (7.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2).

Next up was ABC (6.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with new episodes of "Hank" (6.72 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T14), "The Middle" (6.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #9), "Modern Family" (8.46 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2), "Cougar Town" (7.80 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4) and "Eastwick" (5.28 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T11).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.06 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up its mix of "Mercy" (7.29 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T11), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.14 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "The Jay Leno Show" (5.74 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #13).

And finally, a new "America's Next Top Model" (3.29 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T14) lead into a repeat of "Melrose Place" (1.08 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16) on The CW (2.18 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research