nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, february 17, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (7.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) claimed top honors on Friday with a new "Shark Tank" (5.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) followed by its two-hour Whitney Houston "20/20" (7.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) special.

CBS (10.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) however remained the most-watched network with the Friday debut of "Undercover Boss" (10.73 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) followed by the relocated "A Gifted Man" (9.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) and a new "Blue Bloods" (10.63 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3).

Next up was FOX (3.05 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with fresh installments of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.11 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #6) and "Fringe" (2.99 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up its coverage of "The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards" (2.96 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #9) alongside a new "Dateline NBC" (4.37 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7).

And finally, new episodes of "Nikita" (1.60 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) and "Supernatural" (1.68 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #10) on The CW (1.64 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - 20/20
+25.00% - A Gifted Man
20.00% - Nikita
0.00% - Fringe
0.00% - Supernatural
-11.11% - Blue Bloods
-13.33% - Kitchen Nightmares
-16.67% - Shark Tank
-20.00% - Undercover Boss (vs. 1/29/12)
-26.67% - Dateline NBC

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+71.43% - Undercover Boss (vs. The Defenders)
+50.00% - Shark Tank (vs. Supernanny)
+42.86% - 20/20 (vs. Primetime: What Would You Do?/20/20)
0.00% - Blue Bloods
-16.67% - A Gifted Man (vs. CSI: NY)
-23.53% - Kitchen Nightmares
-26.67% - Fringe
-31.25% - Dateline NBC
-36.36% - Supernatural
-40.00% - Nikita (vs. Smallville)
-44.83% - The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards (vs. Who Do You Think You Are?/Dateline NBC)

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," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5 with an encore .

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.3/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore .

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

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.

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/18/11):

CBS (10.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1) was the most-watched network on Friday with new episodes of "The Defenders" (8.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7), "CSI: NY" (10.62 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) and "Blue Bloods" (11.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3).

FOX (4.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1) then shared the adults 18-49 crown with its combination of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.94 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) and "Fringe" (4.06 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #6).

Next up was NBC (6.51 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with new episodes of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (5.88 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #8) and "Dateline NBC" (6.82 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.14 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up the return of "Supernanny" (3.71 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) adn "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.66 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) after a one week break, followed by a new "20/20" (4.06 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9).

And finally, new episodes of "Smallville" (2.22 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) and "Supernatural" (2.26 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10) on The CW (2.23 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Defenders (27.30%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (23.10%), Supernatural (22.20%), CSI: NY (20.00%), Dateline NBC (14.30%), Kitchen Nightmares (13.30%), Smallville (11.10%), Fringe (7.10%), Blue Bloods (0.00%), Who Do You Think You Are? (-7.10%), Supernanny (-16.70%), 20/20 (-25.00%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4 with an encore.

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

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/3 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