nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, july 14, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (6.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) held onto top honors on Thursday thanks to its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3), "Rules of Engagement" (4.85 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8), "Big Brother 13" (6.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) and "The Mentalist" (6.40 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6).

ABC (5.45 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then had to settle for the silver with its original lineup of "Wipeout" (6.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "Expedition Impossible" (4.64 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) and "Rookie Blue" (5.33 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #5).

Next up was FOX (4.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with a new "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.21 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) and a repeat of "Glee" (2.94 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) offered up repeats of "Community" (2.25 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12),"Parks & Recreation" (2.01 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13), "The Office" (2.58 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #9), "30 Rock" (2.40 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and a new "Love Bites" (1.99 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.04 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T15) and "Nikita" (1.20 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T15) on The CW (1.12 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): So You Think You Can Dance (0.00%), Love Bites (0.00%), Rookie Blue (-6.67%), Wipeout (-10.00%), Big Brother 13 (-14.81%), Expedition Impossible (-18.75%).

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3//6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/15/10):

ABC (6.31 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) powered itself to the top spot on Thursday thanks to new episodes of "Wipeout" (7.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1), "Rookie Blue" (6.45 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) and "Boston Med" (4.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7).

The silver then went to CBS (7.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) with a new "Big Brother 12" (7.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) followed by repeats of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (6.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5) and "The Mentalist" (7.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5).

Next up was FOX (4.57 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with a repeat of "Glee" (3.60 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9) and a new "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.55 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up its revised repeat lineup of "Community" (2.41 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12), "30 Rock" (2.39 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12), "The Office" (2.97 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8), "Parks & Recreation" (2.49 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.61 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.65 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) and "Moonlight" (1.51 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) on The CW (0.50 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research