nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, september 25, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals are approximate for FOX from 7-8p and for NBC on the night. Due to NFL overrun in over 10% of the US, Fast Nationals for CBS are approximate on the night.]

"Sunday Night Football" (17.75 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 7.2, #2) made NBC (14.85 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.9, #1) the network to beat on Sunday. Kicking off the night were its pre-game specials "Football Night in America #1" (5.52 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.9, #17), "Football Night in America #2" (8.89 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.4, #7) and "Football Night in America #3" (15.64 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.9, #3).

Second place then went to FOX (9.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (18.90 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.6, #1), "The OT" (11.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.7, #4) and the season premieres of "The Simpsons" (7.91 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 3.8, #6), "The Cleveland Show" (6.02 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8), "Family Guy" (7.63 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 4.1, #5) and "American Dad" (5.72 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T11).

Next up was CBS (10.89 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) and its premiere lineup of "60 Minutes" (12.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #13), "The Amazing Race" (10.52 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T11), "The Good Wife" (10.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15) and "CSI: Miami" (9.98 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15).

And finally, the return of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (5.41 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 1.3, #18), another "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8.77 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.3, #14), "Desperate Housewives" (9.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8) and the debut of "Pan Am" (10.87 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8) on ABC (8.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-21.74% - Sunday Night Football

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+10.77% - Sunday Night Football
+3.33% - Pan Am (vs. Brothers & Sisters)
+2.70% - The Simpsons
0.00% - The Cleveland Show
-4.65% - Family Guy
-8.00% - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - 8:00
-9.09% - The Amazing Race (vs. 60 Minutes)
-13.33% - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - 7:00
-26.19% - Desperate Housewives
-36.17% - American Dad (vs. Family Guy (S))
-38.89% - CSI: Miami (vs. Undercover Boss)
-40.54% - The Good Wife (vs. The Amazing Race)
-49.02% - 60 Minutes (vs. NFL Overrun)

Here are the highlights of the 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/26/10):

NBC (13.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1) continued its Sunday reign last night with its coverage of "Sunday Night Football" (15.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1). Leading off the evening was "Football Night in America #1" (6.05 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 2.0, #17), "Football Night in America #2" (8.68 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T10) and "Football Night in America #3" (13.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.2, #2).

CBS (13.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) then claimed the silver with its combination of (slot numbers only) "NFL Overrun" (17.02 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #3), "60 Minutes" (13.94 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T10), "The Amazing Race 17" (11.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T7) and "Undercover Boss" (10.90 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.6, #9).

Next up was FOX (7.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) with its mix of "The Simpsons" (7.76 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T7), "The Cleveland Show" (6.60 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 3.1, #12), "Family Guy" (8.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 4.3, #5) and another "Family Guy" (9.41 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 4.7, #4). Leading off the evening were repeats of "The Simpsons" (7.65 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 2.9, #14) and another "The Simpsons" (5.35 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 2.4, #16).

And finally, the season premieres of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (5.54 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.5, #18), another "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8.40 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.5, #15), "Desperate Housewives" (12.83 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.2, #6) and "Brothers & Sisters" (9.64 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.0, #13) on ABC (9.10 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research