nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, august 5, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (3.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) clinged to the demo crown on Friday with its lineup of "Shark Tank" (3.67 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T4), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.52 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T4) and "20/20" (4.75 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1).

CBS (5.99 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) then was the most-watched network with a new "Flashpoint" (6.20 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) followed by repeats of "CSI: NY" (5.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7) and "Blue Bloods" (5.88 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T4).

Next up was NBC (3.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) with the launch of "Friends With Benefits" (2.37 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #9), a second "Friends With Benefits" (1.99 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10) and a new two-hour "Dateline NBC" (4.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up its final week of "Bones" (2.87 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #8) and "House" (2.08 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10) repeats.

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (0.87 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) and "Supernatural" (0.88 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) on The CW (0.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 20/20 (8.3%), Flashpoint (-8.3%), Dateline NBC (-14.3%).

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," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/3; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/6/10):

ABC (4.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) was the top adults 18-49 draw on a low-key Friday with its mix of "Wife Swap" (3.45 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.17 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) and "20/20" (4.80 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1).

NBC (4.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then claimed the silver with the season finale of "Friday Night Lights" (3.54 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) and a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (4.31 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6).

Next up was FOX (3.35 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with repeats of "Bones" (3.36 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7) and another "Bones" (3.34 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7).

Meanwhile, CBS (4.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) offered up repeats of "48 Hours Mystery" (4.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #9) and "Medium" (3.12 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10) followed by a new "Flashpoint" (6.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.30 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10) and "Supernatural" (1.37 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) on The CW (1.33 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research