nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, july 19, 2011)

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

NBC (10.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday with the debut of "It's Worth What?" (6.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) and a new two-hour "America's Got Talent" (12.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1).

FOX (5.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "Hell's Kitchen" (5.77 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) and "Masterchef" (5.35 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3).

Next up was CBS (7.92 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with its mix of "NCIS" (10.17 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (8.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #8) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.58 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.68 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up a repeat of "Wipeout" (5.49 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #6) alongside new episodes of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" (4.76 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #7) and "Combat Hospital" (3.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #10).

And finally, repeats of the relocated "90210" (0.75 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) and "Shedding for the Wedding" (0.51 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) on The CW (0.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Masterchef (4.8% vs. 7/5/11), 48 Hours Mystery (0.0%), Combat Hospital (0.0%), 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show (-6.3%), America's Got Talent (-15.4%).

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," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.4/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.1/3.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 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" (0.7/4 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 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 (7/20/10):

FOX (6.47 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) snagged the top adults 18-49 spot on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "Hell's Kitchen" (5.98 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) and a second "Hell's Kitchen" (6.97 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1).

Second place then went to NBC (8.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) with the season finale of "Losing It With Jillian" (3.67 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T6) and a two-hour "America's Got Talent" (10.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T2).

Next up was ABC (4.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a new "Wipeout" (8.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T2) followed by the departing "Downfall" (3.37 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T6) and a new "Primetime: Family Secrets" (3.02 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9).

Meanwhile, CBS (7.35 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up repeats of "NCIS" (9.64 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (7.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #8) and "The Good Wife" (5.34 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9).

And finally, second runs of "One Tree Hill" (1.25 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and "Life Unexpected" (0.83 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (1.04 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research