nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, september 18, 2011)

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

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The following are Time Zone Adjusted Fast Nationals for FOX from 8-11:01p. Due to the nature of live programming, Fast Nationals for CBS and NBC are approximate. FOX's Emmy Pre-Show is inflated due to an NFL overrun in 30% of the country from 7-7:34p.]

NBC (17.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.4, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday with its coverage of "Sunday Night Football" (21.52 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1). Leading off the night were its pre-game specials "Football Night in America #1" (6.47 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8), "Football Night in America #2" (11.39 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.5, #4) and "Football Night in America #3" (16.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.8, #2).

Second place then went to FOX (11.59 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2) with its broadcast of "The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards" (12.44 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.2, #5). Said audience was up from last year's "The 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards" (11.63 million viewers; adults 18-49: 3.6; 8/29/10 on NBC) while a one-hour "Countdown to the Emmys" (9.05 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.2, #6) special lead off the night.

Next up was CBS (8.74 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (18.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.5, #3), "60 Minutes" (11.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7), "The Good Wife" (5.59 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12), another "The Good Wife" (5.90 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13) and "CSI: Miami" (5.40 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14).

And finally, repeats of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.40 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (4.75 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10) and "20/20: The Sixth Sense" (5.13 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9) on ABC (5.10 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Sunday Night Football (-3.2%).

Here are the highlights of the 19 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/19/10):

NBC (18.46 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.4, #1) blew the doors off the competition last night thanks to its coverage of "Sunday Night Football" (20.55 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 8.3, #1). Leading off the evening was its usual pre-game mix of "Football Night in America #1" (6.78 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T11), "Football Night in America #2" (9.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #5) and "Football Night in America #3" (16.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.4, #3).

CBS (12.16 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2) also caught the benefits of the "NFL Overrun" (24.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #2) followed by its combination of "60 Minutes" (15.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.4, #4), "Undercover Boss" (9.26 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7), another "Undercover Boss" (8.13 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7) and "CSI: Miami" (6.84 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #13).

Next up was FOX (4.42 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with its repeat lineup of "The Simpsons" (2.93 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.1, #17), another "The Simpsons" (3.50 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T14), yet another "The Simpsons" (4.83 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T11), "Family Guy" (4.93 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7), another "Family Guy" (5.04 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7) and yet another "Family Guy" (5.29 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6).

And finally, repeats of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.92 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #16) and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (5.13 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T14) lead into a new "The Gates" (2.78 million viewers, #19; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T18) and the season finale of "The Gates" (2.84 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T18) on ABC (4.17 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4).

Source: Nielsen Media Research