nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, august 10, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

Primetime coverage of the "2012 Summer Olympics" (19.81 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) dipped to another low, however NBC (19.81 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) was still the network to beat.

A distant second place then went to CBS (4.57 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) with repeats of "Undercover Boss" (4.92 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2), "CSI: NY" (4.16 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5) and "Blue Bloods" (4.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #7).

ABC (4.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) then claimed the bronze with its second run lineup of "Shark Tank" (3.98 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3), "20/20" (4.36 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5) and another "20/20" (4.64 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.40 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up rebroadcasts of "Bones" (2.48 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #8) and a second "Bones" (2.32 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (0.61 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11) and another "Nikita" (0.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #10) on The CW (0.69 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the night.

[NOTE #1: Late-night metered market ratings will return after the Olympics.]

[NOTE #2: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/12/11):

Coverage of the "NFL Preseason: Tampa Bay at Kansas City" (4.78 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) put FOX (4.78 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) in front on Friday.

CBS (6.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then had to settle for second place with the penultimate week of "Flashpoint" (7.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) followed by repeats of "CSI: NY" (6.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and "Blue Bloods" (6.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5).

Next up was NBC (4.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) with week two of "Friends With Benefits" (2.32 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) and "Dateline NBC" (5.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) offered up a repeat of "Shark Tank" (3.95 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5) and the two-hour debut of "Karaoke Battle USA" (4.01 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #7).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.16 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) and "Supernatural" (1.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) on The CW (1.16 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Flashpoint (36.4%), Dateline NBC (0.0%), Friends With Benefits (0.0%).

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.6/6; 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," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2 with an encore.

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" (0.8/3 with an encore delayed by golf coverage). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1 with an encore delayed by golf coverage).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research