nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, march 16, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (22.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.4, #1) marched to victory on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (22.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.4, #1).

CBS (11.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) then took home a distant second place with new episodes of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3), "Criminal Minds" (13.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (10.36 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4). Said numbers marked "Survivor's" lowest-rated regular telecast ever.

Next up was ABC (4.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with repeats of "The Middle" (4.89 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9), another "The Middle" (4.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) and "Modern Family" (5.82 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5) followed by fresh installments of "Mr. Sunshine" (4.59 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6) and "Off the Map" (4.23 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.92 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up an original "Minute to Win It" (3.25 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) - a series low - alongside repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.28 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) and a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.22 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #7).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (2.01 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) and "Shedding for the Wedding" (1.03 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (1.52 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (18.20%), Criminal Minds (0.00% vs. 3/2/11), Mr. Sunshine (0.00%), Off the Map (0.00%), Survivor: Redemption Island (-3.10%), American Idol (-7.50%), Minute to Win It (-10.00%), Shedding for the Wedding (-20.00%), America's Next Top Model (-27.30%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/17/10):

FOX (14.00 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) claimed the top spot on Wednesday with new episodes of "Human Target" (7.95 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) and "American Idol" (20.05 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1).

The silver then went to NBC (6.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) with a new "Mercy" (5.58 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9) followed by a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.07 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T13) and a new "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.52 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2).

Next up was CBS (6.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a repeat of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (5.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9), the season finale of "Gary Unmarried" (5.89 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T4) and repeats of "Criminal Minds" (7.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T4) and "CSI: NY" (7.47 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #8).

Meanwhile, The CW (3.12 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up week two of "America's Next Top Model" (3.76 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #7) and "High Society" (1.20 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16).

And finally, the season finale of "Scrubs" (3.46 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T13) lead into repeats of "The Middle" (4.20 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9), "Modern Family" (4.90 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T4), "Cougar Town" (3.56 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) and a new "Ugly Betty" (3.33 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #15) on ABC (3.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research