nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, september 23, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 19 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

[EDITOR'S NOTE #1: Due to the nature of live programming, Fast Nationals for FOX (from 7-730p), ABC, CBS and NBC are approximate. On CBS, the NFL Overrun ran until approximately 8:07p with entertainment prime sliding.]

[EDITOR'S NOTE #2: The Emmy Awards aired live across the country and the time-period based Fast Affiliate Ratings are inaccurate, since they don't include pre-prime viewing in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. ABC has ordered true Fast Nationals from Nielsen, which will account for the pre-prime viewing and be sent out later this morning in a press release.]

"Sunday Night Football" (19.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1) once again topped the charts on Sunday as NBC (15.92 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) was the network to beat. Leading off the night were its pre-game efforts "Football Night in America #1" (6.46 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7), "Football Night in America #2" (7.59 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and "Football Night in America #3" (14.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.9, #3).

CBS (11.37 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then took home the silver with a full hour of "NFL Overrun" (21.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.0, #2) followed by (half-hour results only) "NFL Overrun/60 Minutes" (14.74 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.9, #4), "60 Minutes" (11.06 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7), "60 Minutes/Person of Interest" (6.62 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15), "Person of Interest" (5.34 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #19), "Person of Interest/The Mentalist" (5.41 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #18) and "The Mentalist" (5.18 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15).

Next up was ABC (10.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and its "Countdown to the Emmys" (7.28 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11) special followed by its telecast of "The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards" (11.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5).

A year ago (9/18/11), FOX aired "The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards" (12.44 million viewers; adults 18-49: 4.2) to a larger audience.

And finally, FOX (3.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) closed out the night with its mix of "NFL Overrun/American Dad" (3.19 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14), "The Cleveland Show" (2.45 million viewers, #19; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15), "The Simpsons" (3.36 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12), "Bob's Burgers" (3.07 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13), "Family Guy" (4.01 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10) and another "Family Guy" (4.18 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
8.00% - Sunday Night Football

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
12.50% - Sunday Night Football

Here are the highlights of the 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/25/11):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals are approximate for FOX from 7-8p and for NBC on the night. Due to NFL overrun in over 10% of the US, Fast Nationals for CBS are approximate on the night.]

"Sunday Night Football" (17.75 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 7.2, #2) made NBC (14.85 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.9, #1) the network to beat on Sunday. Kicking off the night were its pre-game specials "Football Night in America #1" (5.52 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.9, #17), "Football Night in America #2" (8.89 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.4, #7) and "Football Night in America #3" (15.64 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.9, #3).

Second place then went to FOX (9.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (18.90 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.6, #1), "The OT" (11.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.7, #4) and the season premieres of "The Simpsons" (7.91 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 3.8, #6), "The Cleveland Show" (6.02 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8), "Family Guy" (7.63 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 4.1, #5) and "American Dad" (5.72 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T11).

Next up was CBS (10.89 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) and its premiere lineup of "60 Minutes" (12.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #13), "The Amazing Race" (10.52 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T11), "The Good Wife" (10.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15) and "CSI: Miami" (9.98 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15).

And finally, the return of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (5.41 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 1.3, #18), another "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8.77 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.3, #14), "Desperate Housewives" (9.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8) and the debut of "Pan Am" (10.87 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8) on ABC (8.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-21.74% - Sunday Night Football

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+10.77% - Sunday Night Football
+3.33% - Pan Am (vs. Brothers & Sisters)
+2.70% - The Simpsons
0.00% - The Cleveland Show
-4.65% - Family Guy
-8.00% - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - 8:00
-9.09% - The Amazing Race (vs. 60 Minutes)
-13.33% - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - 7:00
-26.19% - Desperate Housewives
-36.17% - American Dad (vs. Family Guy (S))
-38.89% - CSI: Miami (vs. Undercover Boss)
-40.54% - The Good Wife (vs. The Amazing Race)
-49.02% - 60 Minutes (vs. NFL Overrun)

Source: Nielsen Media Research