nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, june 27, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (9.31 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) pulled into the top spot on Wednesday with its coverage of the "U.S. Olympic Team Trials" (7.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) followed by a special two-hour "America's Got Talent" (10.46 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1).

FOX (5.56 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then had to settle for second place with its two-hour "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2).

Next up was CBS (5.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) with a new "Dogs in the City" (4.68 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9) followed by repeats of "Criminal Minds" (6.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (5.51 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #7).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) offered up repeats of "The Middle" (3.70 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9), "Suburgatory" (3.06 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11), "Modern Family" (3.82 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) and another "Modern Family" (3.69 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) followed by the debut of "Final Witness" (4.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #8).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (0.72 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and another "America's Next Top Model" (0.60 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) once again closed out the evening for The CW (0.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Top Model" delivered a 0.5 rating at 8:00/7:00c and a 0.5 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-10.00% - Dogs in the City
-16.67% - So You Think You Can Dance

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+5.26% - So You Think You Can Dance
-9.68% - America's Got Talent (vs. America's Got Talent/Love in the Wild)
-16.67% - Final Witness (vs. Primetime Nightline)
-25.00% - Dogs in the City (vs. Undercover Boss (Repeat))
-45.71% - U.S. Olympic Team Trials (vs. The Voice)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" scored its highest rating in metered-market households (3.2/8) since January 11 and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5) delivered its top Wednesday rating since February 29. Wednesday's "Tonight" featured Mila Kunis, Jim Norton and musical guest Justin Bieber. "Late Night" guests included Salma Hayek Pinault, Aaron Sorkin, The Jacksons and musical guest LMFAO, and Angelo Moore sat in with The Roots.

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; 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," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.5/2; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 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 (6/29/11):

NBC (10.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) claimed the top spot on Wednesday with the season finale of "The Voice" (10.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2), a new "America's Got Talent" (13.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) and the premiere of "Love in the Wild" (6.47 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3).

"The Voice" finale posted the Peacock's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period in more than three years and biggest overall viewership in nine months while "Got Talent" scored the network's highest 18-49 rating in the time period since 9/15/2010.

FOX (5.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) then snagged the silver with another two-hour "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4).

Next up was CBS (6.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) with encores of "Undercover Boss" (4.52 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7), "Criminal Minds" (6.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and the relocated "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (7.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) offered up repeats of "The Middle" (3.75 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12), another "The Middle" (3.94 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10), "Modern Family" (4.35 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5), "Happy Endings" (2.79 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11) and a new "Primetime Nightline" (4.16 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (0.95 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T13) and another "America's Next Top Model" (0.99 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T13) on The CW (0.97 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Not applicable due to last week's disruption by the Presidential Address.

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," 1.9/5 with an encore telecast delayed by Wimbledon coverage; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3 with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49 with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research