nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, january 9, 2011)

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

FOX (17.40 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.1, #1) had no trouble taking home top honors on Sunday thanks to its mix of "NFL Overrun" (35.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 13.0, #1), "The OT" (29.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 11.0, #2), "The Simpsons" (12.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.7, #3), the premiere of "Bob's Burgers" (9.41 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 4.5, #5), "Family Guy" (9.29 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 4.7, #4) and the relocated "The Cleveland Show" (7.36 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 3.5, #7).

ABC (9.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then snagged a distant silver medal with new episodes of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.55 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T14), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (9.11 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9), "Desperate Housewives" (12.69 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #6) and "Brothers & Sisters" (8.38 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.3, #13).

Next up was CBS (10.26 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with new episodes of "60 Minutes" (10.45 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #16), "CSI: Miami" (11.90 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #12), "Undercover Boss" (11.60 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #8) and a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (7.09 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T14).

And finally, a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (5.62 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.1, #17) led into the premiere of "The Cape" (8.50 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9) followed by a second "The Cape" (8.28 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9) on NBC (7.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Simpsons (72.70% vs. 12/12/10), Family Guy (17.50% vs. 12/12/10), The Cleveland Show (16.70% vs. 12/5/10), Undercover Boss (11.10%), CSI: Miami (0.00%), Desperate Housewives (0.00%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (-3.70%), Brothers & Sisters (-4.20%), America's Funniest Home Videos (-14.30%), 60 Minutes (-20.00%).

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/10/10):

An overtime's worth of "NFL Overrun" (33.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 11.8, #1) sparked a monster showing by FOX (20.04 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.0, #1) on Sunday. Leading out of said coverage were a new "The Simpsons" (21.01 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 8.8, #2), "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special" (12.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.9, #3) and "The Cleveland Show" (8.55 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 4.2, #5).

ABC (10.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) then had to settle for a distant second place with its usual mix of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.93 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.8, #12), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (10.61 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #7), "Desperate Housewives" (14.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.7, #4) and "Brothers & Sisters" (10.59 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.6, #6).

Next up was NBC (7.18 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.33 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13), the return of "Chuck" (7.70 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.0, #8) and another new "Chuck" (7.19 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.9, #9).

And finally, CBS (9.13 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) closed out the evening with its combination of "60 Minutes" (9.88 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (7.00 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #15), "Cold Case" (10.24 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #11) and "Criminal Minds" (9.43 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10).

Source: Nielsen Media Research