nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, july 8, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (4.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) edged out an adults 18-49 victory on Friday with its mix of "Shark Tank" (4.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T4), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.95 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and "20/20" (5.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

CBS (6.26 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) then was the most-watched network with a new "Flashpoint" (6.23 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T4) followed by repeats of "CSI: NY" (5.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7) and "Blue Bloods" (6.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6).

Next up was NBC (4.80 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) with the penultimate week of "Friday Night Lights" (3.00 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #10) and another two-hour "Dateline NBC" (5.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.85 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) offered up encores of "Bones" (3.13 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8) and "House" (2.58 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.05 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and "Supernatural" (0.70 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (0.88 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Flashpoint (50.00% vs. 6/17/11), Dateline NBC (36.40%), Friday Night Lights (16.70%), 20/20 (7.70%).

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/3 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/1).

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

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/9/10):

ABC (4.53 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) snagged the adults 18-49 crown on Friday thanks to its mix of "Wife Swap" (3.52 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.72 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) and "20/20" (5.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

A silver then went to NBC (4.64 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) with new episodes of "Friday Night Lights" (3.66 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #7) and "Dateline NBC" (5.13 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

Next up was CBS (5.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with a repeat of "Medium" (3.62 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9) followed by a new "Flashpoint" (5.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5) and a second "Flashpoint" (6.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up repeats of "House" (2.92 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #8) and "The Good Guys" (1.74 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.40 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10) and "Supernatural" (1.18 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) on The CW (1.29 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research