nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, july 20, 2012)

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

ABC (4.37 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) was the top draw on Friday thanks to a repeat of "Shark Tank" (4.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) and an expanded two-hour "20/20" (4.39 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1).

Second place then went to NBC (3.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) with repeats of "Whitney" (2.33 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) and "Community" (1.30 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) plus a new two-hour "Dateline NBC" (4.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2).

Next up was CBS (4.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with its last-minute special "48 Hours: Tragedy in Aurora" (4.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) followed by repeats of "CSI: NY" (4.55 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5) and "Blue Bloods" (4.92 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up second runs of "House" (1.83 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #9) and "Bones" (2.18 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) and "Supernatural" (0.98 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) on The CW (0.99 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - 20/20 -4.17% - Dateline NBC

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+13.04% - 20/20 -4.17% - Dateline NBC -9.09% - 48 Hours: Tragedy in Aurora (vs. Flashpoint)

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," 1.9/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.4/2; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/4 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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/22/11):

ABC (4.12 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) was the network to beat on Friday with a repeat of "Shark Tank" (3.80 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) followed by a special edition of "20/20" (4.21 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) and a repeat of "20/20" (4.36 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1).

CBS (6.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) then was the most-watched network with its mix of "Flashpoint" (6.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3), "CSI: NY" (5.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6) and "Blue Bloods" (6.09 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #7).

Next up was NBC (4.24 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) with an encore of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (3.25 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #8) followed by a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (4.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.26 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up repeats of "Bones" (2.71 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9) and "House" (1.81 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #10).

And finally, The CW (0.99 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) did the same with its revised duo of "Nikita" (1.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11) and "Supernatural" (0.97 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Flashpoint (-8.3%), 20/20 (-8.3%), Dateline NBC (0.0%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release, currently excludes the New York and Chicago markets and are subject to significant revision):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets (New York and Chicago currently excluded), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.1/3 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.7/5 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" (0.8/4 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 with an encore and a 0.5/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research