nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, june 28, 2012)

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

CBS (6.54 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) was the most-watched network on Thursday despite its all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (7.66 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1), "2 Broke Girls" (6.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4), "Person of Interest" (6.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) and "The Mentalist" (6.20 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6).

ABC (4.99 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) however split the demo crown with its mix of "Duets" (4.23 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T9), the return of "Wipeout" (5.89 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) and "Rookie Blue" (4.85 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6).

Next up was FOX (2.61 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with originals from "Take Me Out" (2.32 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T9) and "The Choice" (2.90 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.33 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up its "U.S. Olympic Team Trials" (6.16 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) followed by new episodes of "Saving Hope" (3.29 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #12) and "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (3.52 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11).

And finally, a new "Breaking Pointe" (0.87 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #13) and a repeat of "The Vampire Diaries" (0.65 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #14) on The CW (0.76 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Pointe" posted a 0.4 rating while "Diaries" delivered a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+40.00% - Saving Hope
0.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
0.00% - Breaking Pointe
-9.09% - Duets (vs. 6/20/12)
-15.38% - Rookie Blue (vs. 6/7/12)
-16.67% - Take Me Out
-20.00% - The Choice

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+161.54% - U.S. Olympic Team Trials (vs. Community (Repeat)/30 Rock (Repeat))
+33.33% - The Choice (vs. Glee (Repeat))
+14.29% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Love Bites)
+5.56% - Wipeout (vs. Expedition Impossible)
0.00% - Breaking Pointe (vs. The Vampire Diaries (Repeat))
-21.43% - Rookie Blue
-26.32% - Saving Hope (vs. The Office (Repeat)/Parks & Recreation (Repeat))
-37.50% - Take Me Out (vs. So You Think You Can Dance 8)
-47.37% - Duets (vs. Wipeout)

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," 2.5/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5; 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," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.4/2; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 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 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (6/30/11):

ABC (6.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) held onto the top spot on Thursday with week two of "Wipeout" (6.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1), "Expedition Impossible" (6.13 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) and "Rookie Blue" (5.43 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #5).

FOX (3.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then second place with a new "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.04 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) followed by a repeat of "Glee" (2.88 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10).

Next up was CBS (6.76 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4), "Rules of Engagement" (4.94 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (6.73 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7) and "The Mentalist" (7.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) was out of the hunt with its mix of "Community" (2.10 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14), "30 Rock" (2.02 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12), "The Office" (2.42 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #9), "Parks & Recreation" (2.01 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and a new "Love Bites" (1.80 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (0.84 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T15) and "Nikita" (0.88 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T15) on The CW (0.86 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Rookie Blue (-12.50%), Love Bites (-12.50%), So You Think You Can Dance (-15.80%), Wipeout (-17.40%), Expedition Impossible (-21.70%).

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," 1.6/4 with an encore telecast delayed by Wimbledon coverage; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; 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," 0.7/3 with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.0/4 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 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 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research