nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, february 22, 2012)

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

A two-hour edition of "American Idol" (15.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1) kept FOX (15.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1) in front on Wednesday.

CBS (11.57 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "Survivor: One World" (10.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T4) - its series low with regular telecasts, "Criminal Minds" (12.62 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) - tied as its season low - and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (11.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T4).

Next up was ABC (6.85 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with new episodes of "The Middle" (7.50 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7) - season low, "Suburgatory" (6.79 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7) - its series low, "Modern Family" (11.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.7, #2) - its season low - and "Happy Endings" (5.70 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6) as well as the special "20/20: Before They Were Famous" (4.81 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.13 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Whitney" (4.13 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), "Are You There, Chelsea?" (3.40 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) - its lowest rating to date, "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (2.69 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) - its series low - and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.94 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9) - likewise its series low.

And finally on The CW (1.07 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), a new "One Tree Hill" (1.37 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) lead into the departing "Remodeled" (0.76 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Hill" delivered a 1.1 rating while "Remodeled" posted a 0.7 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Remodeled
+3.70% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
+3.33% - Criminal Minds
0.00% - Modern Family
0.00% - Happy Endings
0.00% - One Tree Hill
-4.17% - Suburgatory
-5.88% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-6.25% - Whitney
-6.67% - Survivor: One World
-7.14% - Are You There, Chelsea?
-8.00% - The Middle
-15.00% - American Idol
-25.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+36.36% - Whitney (vs. Minute to Win It)
+27.78% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+18.18% - Are You There, Chelsea? (Vs. Minute to Win It)
+14.63% - Modern Family
+12.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior)
+4.17% - Happy Endings (vs. Mr. Sunshine)
-4.17% - The Middle
-8.82% - Criminal Minds
-15.15% - Survivor: One World
-17.65% - 20/20: Before They Were Famous (vs. Off the Map)
-35.44% - American Idol
-36.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-36.36% - One Tree Hill (vs. America's Next Top Model)
-40.00% - Remodeled (vs. Shedding for the Wedding)
-53.85% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Minute to Win It (S))

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/8; 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," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) 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" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households 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 (2/23/11):

FOX (22.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.9, #1) was usual was the network to beat on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (22.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.9, #1).

CBS (11.51 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then took home the silver with week two of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (11.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4), "Criminal Minds" (13.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (9.92 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5).

Next up was ABC (6.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) and its mix of "The Middle" (8.07 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7), "Better With You" (5.58 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9), "Modern Family" (10.35 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "Mr. Sunshine" (6.46 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7) and "Off the Map" (4.89 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its lineup of "Minute to Win It #1" (3.90 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T12), "Minute to Win It #2" (4.31 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.04 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5).

And finally, the return of "America's Next Top Model" (2.25 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T12) led into the debut of "Shedding for the Wedding" (1.15 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) on The CW (1.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Minute to Win It #2 (30.00%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (13.60%), Off the Map (13.30%), Criminal Minds (6.30%), The Middle (4.30%), Survivor: Redemption Island (3.10%), Better With You (0.00%), Minute to Win It #1 (0.00%), American Idol (-2.50%), Modern Family (-4.70%), Mr. Sunshine (-7.70%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (-24.20%).

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," 2.8/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

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," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 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 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