nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, december 26, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (8.23 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) took home the adults 18-49 crown on the final Sunday of 2010 with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (19.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1), "The OT" (10.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "The Simpsons" (6.38 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3), "The Cleveland Show" (4.86 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5), "Family Guy" (5.29 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) and a new "Running Wilde" (3.00 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.3, #15).

CBS (8.59 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then was the most-watched network with its combination of "60 Minutes Presents: Into the Wild" (11.78 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7), "Undercover Boss" (8.41 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8), "CSI: Miami" (6.86 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T11) and "The Mentalist" (7.33 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9).

Next up was ABC (6.24 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) with its annual rebroadcast of "The Sound of Music" (6.24 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T11).

And finally, NBC (4.45 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) served up a last-minute "SNF"-less lineup of "Football Night in America #1" (3.73 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #17), "Football Night in America #2" (4.52 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9), "Football Night in America #3" (6.60 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6), "Minute to Win It" (4.53 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T11), another "Minute to Win It" (4.34 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.76 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #16).

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/27/09):

NBC (13.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday with its penultimate week of its "Sunday Night Football" (16.60 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.0, #2) coverage. Leading off the night was the pre-game special "Football Night in America" (6.47 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5).

CBS (14.95 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) then claimed the silver with its "NFL Overrun" (23.71 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.7, #1) followed by a new "60 Minutes" (14.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3) and a repeat of "Jesse Stone: Thin Ice" (10.74 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9).

Next up was FOX (3.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) with a new "Brothers" (2.34 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11), the season finale of "Brothers" (1.89 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) and repeats of "The Simpsons" (4.16 million viewers, #T9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8), "The Cleveland Show" (4.20 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T6), "Family Guy" (5.08 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3) and "American Dad" (4.16 million viewers, #T9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T6).

And finally, a rebroadcast of "The Sound of Music" (6.41 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10) on ABC (6.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) closed out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research