nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, may 9, 2012)

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

FOX (16.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) continued its reign on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (16.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1).

CBS (10.60 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "Survivor: One World" (9.72 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4), "Criminal Minds" (11.49 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) - tied as its series low - and the season finale of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5) - its lowest-rated season finale ever.

Next up was ABC (7.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) and its original lineup of "The Middle" (6.56 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9) - a season low, "Suburgatory" (5.99 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8), "Modern Family" (10.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2), "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (5.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and "Revenge" (6.97 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.95 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (5.58 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12), a second "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (5.40 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (3.65 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.72 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10).

And finally, an encore of "America's Next Top Model" (0.92 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.05 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (0.99 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Top Model" delivered a 0.5 rating at 8:00/7:00c and a 0.6 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+15.38% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:00
+14.29% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:30
+8.00% - Survivor: One World
+7.50% - Modern Family
+5.00% - Suburgatory
+4.76% - Revenge
+4.35% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
0.00% - America's Next Top Model
-4.17% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
-4.35% - American Idol
-5.00% - The Middle
-5.56% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-6.67% - Criminal Minds
-20.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+77.78% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:30 (vs. Minute to Win It)
+66.67% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:00 (vs. Minute to Win It)
+41.94% - Revenge (vs. Happy Endings (10:00)/Happy Endings (10:30))
+14.29% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior)
+10.53% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+2.38% - Modern Family
-4.17% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. Cougar Town)
-9.52% - The Middle
-10.00% - Survivor: One World
-15.15% - Criminal Minds
-23.88% - American Idol (vs. American Idol 10/Breaking In)
-27.27% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Minute to Win It (Repeat))
-29.17% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-60.00% - America's Next Top Model

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; 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," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

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" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 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 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/11/11):

FOX (18.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with new episodes of "American Idol" (22.37 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.9, #1) and the departing "Breaking In" (7.65 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5).

CBS (10.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then claimed the distant silver with fresh installments of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4), "Criminal Minds" (13.08 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (9.08 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T8).

Next up was ABC (6.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) and its mix of "The Middle" (7.16 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T8), the season finale of "Better With You" (5.96 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10), "Modern Family" (10.11 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2), "Cougar Town" (6.14 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5), "Happy Endings" (4.25 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #11) and another "Happy Endings" (3.47 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.85 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up a new "Minute to Win It" (3.05 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15), a repeat of "Minute to Win It" (3.54 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) and a new "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.96 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5).

And finally, an encore of last week's "America's Next Top Model" (1.23 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.97 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) on The CW (1.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Better With You (18.80%), America's Next Top Model (11.10%), Modern Family (10.50%), Cougar Town (9.10%), American Idol (7.80%), The Middle (5.00%), Criminal Minds (3.10%), Survivor: Redemption Island (0.00%), Happy Endings (10:00) (0.00%), Happy Endings (10:30) (0.00%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (-4.00%), Breaking In (-4.00%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (-4.50%), Minute to Win It (-10.00%).

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," 3.0/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/7; 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," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

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" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

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