nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, may 27, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (6.93 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday with its coverage of "NASCAR '12 Racing from Charlotte" (6.93 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1).

NBC (4.22 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then took home the silver with its mix of "Dateline NBC" (3.52 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #10), the "Harry's Law" (5.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4) finale and repeats of "America's Got Talent" (3.26 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4) and another "America's Got Talent" (4.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was ABC (2.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its encore lineup of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (3.70 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3), "Duets" (2.75 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4) and "Rookie Blue" (2.71 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4).

And finally, CBS (4.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up a special "60 Minutes Presents" (6.04 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4) followed by repeats of "Blue Bloods" (3.68 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12), "The Good Wife" (4.36 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #11) and "CSI: Miami" (4.36 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-30.00% - Harry's Law (vs. 5/13/12)
-50.00% - 60 Minutes

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):

75.00% - Harry's Law (vs. Minute to Win It (Repeat))
16.67% - 60 Minutes
-8.70% - NASCAR '12 Racing from Charlotte (vs. NASCAR: Coca-Cola 600)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/29/11):

Coverage of the "NASCAR: Coca-Cola 600" (7.66 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) put FOX (7.66 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) in front on Sunday.

ABC (4.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then took home second place with its all-repeat lineup of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (3.90 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7), another "America's Funniest Home Videos" (4.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) and a two-hour "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (4.26 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T2).

Next up was CBS (5.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with its mix of "60 Minutes" (5.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9), "Undercover Boss" (4.38 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7), another "Undercover Boss" (5.31 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T2) and "CSI: Miami" (5.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5).

And finally, NBC (2.93 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) rounded out the night with its lineup of "Dateline NBC" (3.01 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10), "Minute to Win It" (2.20 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10) and "The Bourne Supremacy" (3.25 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6).

Source: Nielsen Media Research