nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, february 15, 2012)

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

FOX (18.63 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) overshadowed the competition on Wednesday with a two-hour edition of "American Idol" (18.63 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1).

CBS (11.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then snagged a distant second place with the launch of "Survivor: One World" (10.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T3) - the franchise's lowest-rated premiere ever - followed by new episodes of "Criminal Minds" (11.90 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T3) - its season low - and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (11.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5).

Next up was ABC (7.86 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and its mix of "The Middle" (8.05 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T6), "Suburgatory" (6.93 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8), "Modern Family" (11.22 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.7, #2), "Happy Endings" (5.75 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T6) and "Revenge" (7.60 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8). All five series hit or matched their season lows (excluding Thanksgiving eve) in the key demo.

Meanwhile, NBC (4.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Whitney" (4.46 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), "Are You There, Chelsea?" (3.49 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12) - tied as its series low, "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (3.05 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.85 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10) - its series low.

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.36 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) and "Remodeled" (0.50 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.2, #15) on The CW (0.93 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Hill" delivered a 1.3 rating while "Remodeled" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+6.67% - Whitney
0.00% - American Idol
0.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
0.00% - One Tree Hill
-3.85% - The Middle
-4.00% - Revenge
-4.00% - Suburgatory
-6.67% - Are You There, Chelsea?
-11.76% - Criminal Minds
-14.55% - Modern Family
-16.67% - Happy Endings
-22.73% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-27.27% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
-50.00% - Remodeled

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - One Tree Hill (vs. Nikita (Repeat))
+60.00% - Revenge (vs. Off the Map)
+45.45% - Whitney (vs. Minute to Win It)
+33.33% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+27.27% - Are You There, Chelsea? (vs. Minute to Win It)
+9.30% - Modern Family
+8.70% - The Middle
-3.85% - Happy Endings (vs. Mr. Sunshine)
-6.25% - Survivor: One World
-6.25% - Criminal Minds
-18.18% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior)
-20.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Minute to Win It (S))
-22.73% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-25.93% - American Idol
-33.33% - Remodeled (vs. The Vampire Diaries (Repeat))

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," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.7/4; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

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" (1.3/5). 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 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/4 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 (2/16/11):

FOX (22.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with its newly expanded two-hour "American Idol" (22.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1).

CBS (12.30 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then claimed the silver with the bow of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (11.17 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4) followed by a new "Criminal Minds" (12.83 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4) and the launch of "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (12.91 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3).

Next up was ABC (6.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) and its mix of "The Middle" (7.96 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7), "Better With You" (5.86 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9), "Modern Family" (10.54 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2), "Mr. Sunshine" (7.01 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "Off the Map" (4.33 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.85 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up "Minute to Win It #1" (3.84 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11), "Minute to Win It #2" (3.45 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.32 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "The Vampire Diaries" (0.79 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) on The CW (1.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): American Idol (-2.40%), Better With You (-10.00%), The Middle (-11.50%), Criminal Minds (-13.50%), Modern Family (-14.00%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (-15.40%), Minute to Win It #1 (-15.40%), Off the Map (-21.10%), Mr. Sunshine (-29.70%), Minute to Win It #2 (-56.50%).

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," 2.9/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) tied 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 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research