nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, february 27, 2011)

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

ABC (30.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.1, #1) as expected was the network to beat with its coverage of "The 83rd Annual Academy Awards" (33.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.6, #1). Leading off the night were its pre-ceremony specials "Oscar's Red Carpet Live #1" (18.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.4, #4), "Oscar's Red Carpet Live #2" (22.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.9, #3) and "Oscar's Red Carpet Live #3" (32.40 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 9.1, #2).

Said coverage was off significantly from last year's "The 82nd Annual Academy Awards" (39.24 million viewers; adults 18-49: 12.5 on 3/7/10) - 14.70% in total viewers and 15.20% in adults 18-49.

FOX (4.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) then claimed a distant silver with its all-repeat lineup of "The Simpsons" (4.02 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10), "American Dad" (3.48 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), another "The Simpsons" (4.91 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5), "Bob's Burgers" (3.83 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9) and a one-hour "Family Guy" (4.32 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7).

Next up was CBS (7.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with new episodes of "60 Minutes" (8.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) and "The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business" (7.62 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6) followed by a repeat of "Undercover Boss" (5.64 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12) and a new "CSI: Miami" (8.18 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7).

And finally, a new "Dateline NBC" (4.70 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T15) led into repeats of "Minute to Win It" (2.58 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.7, #17), another "Minute to Win It" (3.61 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #14) and yet another "Minute to Win It" (2.44 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T15) on NBC (3.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (0.00%), CSI: Miami (-9.10%), 60 Minutes (-14.30%), The Amazing Race 17 (-16.00%).

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/28/10):

The conclusion of the "Winter Olympics 2010" (20.52 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1) and a preview of "The Marriage Ref" (14.48 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.8, #3) had no trouble putting NBC (19.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1) in front on Sunday.

The silver then went to CBS (11.45 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) with new episodes of "60 Minutes" (10.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #14), "The Amazing Race 16" (10.24 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5), "Undercover Boss" (15.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.0, #2) and "Cold Case" (9.79 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8).

Next up was ABC (8.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) and its mix of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.86 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T11), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (6.73 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #13), "Desperate Housewives" (10.81 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #4) and "Brothers & Sisters" (8.00 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7).

And finally, a new "'Til Death" (2.47 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #16), another new "'Til Death" (3.06 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #15) and repeats of "The Simpsons" (5.41 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8), "The Cleveland Show" (5.09 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10), "Family Guy" (5.81 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6) and "American Dad" (4.74 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T11) on FOX (4.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research