nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, april 1, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (12.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday with its coverage of "The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" (12.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) but the broadcast also marked its lowest rating since 2008. Leading off the night was a new "60 Minutes" (9.92 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10).

A silver medal then went to ABC (6.97 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) with a repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.46 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T11) followed by originals of "Once Upon a Time" (8.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) - a series low, "Desperate Housewives" (8.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) and "GCB" (5.84 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6) - also a series low.

Next up was FOX (3.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with its mix of a repeat of "The Simpsons" (2.20 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14), a new "The Cleveland Show" (2.83 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T11), another repeat of "The Simpsons" (3.87 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8) and new episodes of "Bob's Burgers" (3.60 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8), "Family Guy" (5.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) and "American Dad" (4.22 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5).

And finally, NBC (5.58 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) served up its mainstay "Dateline NBC" (4.63 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13) followed by a special three-hour edition of "The Celebrity Apprentice" (5.89 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7) - tied as its season low.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Desperate Housewives
0.00% - American Dad
0.00% - The Celebrity Apprentice
0.00% - Dateline NBC
-3.57% - Once Upon a Time
-10.71% - Family Guy (vs. 3/18/12)
-13.64% - GCB
-20.00% - Bob's Burgers
-20.00% - The Cleveland Show
-48.00% - 60 Minutes

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+13.64% - Family Guy (vs. Family Guy (Repeat))
+3.85% - Once Upon a Time (vs. Secret Millionaire)
0.00% - Dateline NBC
-5.00% - GCB (vs. Body of Proof)
-5.88% - Bob's Burgers (vs. Bob's Burgers (Repeat))
-6.06% - The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (vs. The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards)
-7.14% - Desperate Housewives
-9.09% - American Dad (vs. The Cleveland Show)
-13.33% - 60 Minutes
-25.00% - The Cleveland Show (vs. American Dad)
-28.00% - The Celebrity Apprentice (vs. America's Next Great Restaurant/The Celebrity Apprentice)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/3/11):

CBS (12.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) claimed top honors on Sunday thanks to a new "60 Minutes" (10.29 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12) followed by "The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" (12.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1).

Said numbers were on par with last year's ceremony (13.05 million viewers; adults 18-49: 3.1 on 4/18/10).

ABC (8.39 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) then took home the silver with its mix of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.60 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10), "Secret Millionaire" (9.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4), "Desperate Housewives" (8.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and a special "Body of Proof" (8.44 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7).

Next up was NBC (6.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with fresh installments of "Dateline NBC" (5.17 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #15), "America's Next Great Restaurant" (3.92 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (8.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2).

Meanwhile, FOX (4.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up its combination of a "The Simpsons" (2.77 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.1, #14) repeat, a new "American Dad" (3.58 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10), repeats of "The Simpsons" (4.53 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8), "Bob's Burgers" (3.82 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9), "Family Guy" (4.86 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T5) and a new "The Cleveland Show" (4.82 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (66.70%), America's Next Great Restaurant (7.70%), The Celebrity Apprentice (0.00%), America's Funniest Home Videos (0.00%), Secret Millionaire (-3.70%), Desperate Housewives (-17.60% vs. 3/6/11), The Cleveland Show (-18.50% vs. 3/20/11), Body of Proof (-33.30% vs. 3/29/11), American Dad (-36.00%), 60 Minutes (-50.00%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research