nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, october 5, 2010)

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

FOX (8.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) skated to another adults 18-49 victory on Tuesday with its mix of "Glee" (10.97 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1), "Raising Hope" (6.27 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T5) and "Running Wilde" (4.07 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T10).

A close second place then went to CBS (16.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) with new episodes of "NCIS" (19.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.19 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T3) and "The Good Wife" (12.67 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7).

Next up was ABC (11.21 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with week two of "No Ordinary Family" (8.93 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T5) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (16.41 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T3) and "Detroit 187" (8.29 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.25 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) offered up new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (6.81 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7) and "Parenthood" (5.15 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

And finally, first-runs of "One Tree Hill" (1.99 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12) and "Life Unexpected" (1.59 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) on The CW (1.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): One Tree Hill (11.10%), The Good Wife (0.00%), Parenthood (0.00%), Life Unexpected (0.00%), The Biggest Loser (-3.80%), NCIS (-7.50%), Dancing With the Stars (-13.50%), NCIS: Los Angeles (-13.50%), Running Wilde (-14.30%), No Ordinary Family (-16.10%), Detroit 187 (-18.20%), Raising Hope (-18.80%), Glee (-22.40%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.3/8) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.6/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.0/8). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.7/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.5/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/5) and "Daly" (0.8/3) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/6/09):

CBS (16.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) continued its reign on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "NCIS" (19.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) and "The Good Wife" (13.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5).

The silver then went to NBC (8.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) with fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser" (9.07 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and "The Jay Leno Show" (6.20 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

Next up was FOX (6.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) with new episodes of "Hell's Kitchen" (7.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4) and "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.50 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T6).

Meanwhile, ABC (8.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up its mix of "Shark Tank" (5.42 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), "Dancing With the Stars" (11.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T6) and "The Forgotten" (7.81 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (2.19 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11) and "Melrose Place" (1.56 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) on The CW (1.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research