nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, march 14, 2012)

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

FOX (17.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1) as usual was the network to beat on Wednesday with a two-hour "American Idol" (17.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1).

A silver medal then went to CBS (11.05 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) with fresh installments of "Survivor: One World" (10.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3), "Criminal Minds" (11.33 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) - its series low - and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (11.52 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5).

Next up was ABC (6.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with new episodes of "The Middle" (6.99 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7) - a season low, "Suburgatory" (6.30 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7) - a series low, "Modern Family" (10.52 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) - a season low - and "Happy Endings" (5.51 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6) followed by a second "Revenge for Real" (4.46 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10) special.

Meanwhile, NBC (2.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) offered up its mix of "Whitney" (4.01 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9) - its series low, "Are You There, Chelsea?" (2.90 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11) - likewise its series low, a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.52 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12) and "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (2.60 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) - tied as its series low.

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.50 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12) and "America's Next Top Model" (1.05 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) on The CW (1.27 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Hill" delivered a 1.2 rating while "Top Model" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Happy Endings
+3.85% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. 2/29/12)
0.00% - One Tree Hill
-5.36% - American Idol
-8.33% - Modern Family (vs. 2/29/12)
-9.38% - Survivor: One World
-9.68% - Criminal Minds (vs. 2/29/12)
-12.50% - Suburgatory (vs. 2/29/12)
-12.50% - Whitney
-14.29% - Revenge for Real
-16.67% - America's Next Top Model
-19.23% - The Middle (vs. 2/29/12)
-33.33% - Are You There, Chelsea?
-40.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - Modern Family (vs. Modern Family (Repeat))
+75.00% - Suburgatory (vs. The Middle (Repeat))
+75.00% - The Middle (vs. The Middle (Repeat))
+55.56% - Whitney (vs. Minute to Win It)
+33.33% - Happy Endings (vs. Mr. Sunshine)
+25.00% - America's Next Top Model (vs. Shedding for the Wedding)
+11.11% - Are You There, Chelsea? (vs. Minute to Win It)
+3.85% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior)
-6.45% - Survivor: One World
-12.50% - One Tree Hill (vs. America's Next Top Model)
-14.29% - Revenge for Real (vs. Off the Map)
-22.22% - Criminal Minds
-28.38% - American Idol
-60.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (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," 2.4/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's original "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/16/11):

FOX (22.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.4, #1) marched to victory on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (22.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.4, #1).

CBS (11.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) then took home a distant second place with new episodes of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3), "Criminal Minds" (13.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (10.36 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4). Said numbers marked "Survivor's" lowest-rated regular telecast ever.

Next up was ABC (4.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with repeats of "The Middle" (4.89 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9), another "The Middle" (4.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) and "Modern Family" (5.82 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5) followed by fresh installments of "Mr. Sunshine" (4.59 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6) and "Off the Map" (4.23 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.92 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up an original "Minute to Win It" (3.25 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) - a series low - alongside repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.28 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) and a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.22 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #7).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (2.01 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) and "Shedding for the Wedding" (1.03 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (1.52 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (18.20%), Criminal Minds (0.00% vs. 3/2/11), Mr. Sunshine (0.00%), Off the Map (0.00%), Survivor: Redemption Island (-3.10%), American Idol (-7.50%), Minute to Win It (-10.00%), Shedding for the Wedding (-20.00%), America's Next Top Model (-27.30%).

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," 3.1/7; 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," 1.0/4; "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" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat 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" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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