nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, january 18, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

The return of "American Idol" (21.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) surged FOX (21.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) to the top spot on Wednesday. "Idol" have was down nearly 26% from last year's launch among adults 18-49.

A silver medal then went to ABC (8.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) with new episodes of "The Middle" (8.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6), "Suburgatory" (7.02 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7), "Modern Family" (11.81 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.0, #2), "Happy Endings" (6.22 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4) and "Revenge" (7.58 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7).

Next up was CBS (11.24 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with a repeat of "NCIS" (9.09 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12) followed by the return of "Criminal Minds" (12.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (11.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up its lineup of "Whitney" (4.30 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), "Are You There, Chelsea?" (4.27 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T9), "Harry's Law" (6.41 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.41 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T9).

And finally, week two of "One Tree Hill" (1.52 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) led into a repeat of "Remodeled" (0.61 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) on The CW (1.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Hill" delivered a 1.4 rating while "Remodeled" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+4.17% - Revenge
-1.96% - Modern Family
-5.88% - Criminal Minds (vs. 12/14/11)
-6.45% - Happy Endings
-6.67% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. 12/14/11)
-10.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-13.33% - The Middle
-13.79% - Suburgatory
-21.43% - Harry's Law
-21.74% - Are You There, Chelsea?
-22.22% - One Tree Hill
-23.81% - Whitney

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - One Tree Hill (vs. Nikita (Repeat))
+40.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Blue Bloods)
+19.05% - Revenge (vs. Off the Map)
+16.00% - Happy Endings (vs. Cougar Town)
+14.29% - Criminal Minds
+13.64% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+12.50% - Are You There, Chelsea? (vs. Minute to Win It)
+10.00% - Harry's Law (vs. Chase)
+8.70% - Modern Family
0.00% - Whitney (vs. Minute to Win It)
-3.70% - The Middle
-21.74% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-25.77% - American Idol

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/6 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 1.0/4 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 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/19/11):

The return of "American Idol" (26.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.7, #1) not surprisingly put FOX (26.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.7, #1) on top on Wednesday. And while said numbers topped the combined efforts of ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW by 47%, they were nevertheless down 17% from last year's launch (29.78 million viewers; adults 18-49: 11.7 on 1/12/10).

ABC (7.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then had to settle for a distant second place with new episodes of "The Middle" (8.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4), "Better With You" (6.83 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7), "Modern Family" (11.10 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.6, #2), "Cougar Town" (6.08 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5) and "Off the Map" (5.84 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

Next up was CBS (9.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) with fresh installments of "Live to Dance" (5.32 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) and "Criminal Minds" (12.13 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) followed by the Wednesday premiere of "Blue Bloods" (12.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9). Both were series lows for "Live to Dance" and "Criminal Minds."

Meanwhile, NBC (5.44 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up new episodes of "Minute to Win It" (5.08 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10), the relocated "Chase" (4.34 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.89 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6). "Chase's" audience marked a series low.

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.58 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and"Hellcats" (0.81 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) on The CW (1.20 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Modern Family (27.8%), Blue Bloods (17.6% vs. 12/3/10), Minute to Win It (0.0%), Off the Map (-4.5%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (-8.0%), Better With You (-12.0% vs. 1/5/11), Criminal Minds (-12.5% vs. 12/15/10), The Middle (-12.9%), Cougar Town (-13.8% vs. 1/5/11), Live to Dance (-23.1%), Chase (-33.3% vs. 12/6/10).

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," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) out-rated CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). 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 0.9/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research