nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, october 20, 2010)

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

CBS (12.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "Survivor: Nicaragua" (12.00 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3), "Criminal Minds" (14.31 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) and "The Defenders" (10.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #9).

A silver medal then went to FOX (8.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) with its coverage of the "NLCS, Game 4" (8.34 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5).

Next up was ABC (7.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with fresh installments of "The Middle" (8.54 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T6), "Better With You" (6.97 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10), "Modern Family" (11.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1), "Cougar Town" (7.49 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4) and "The Whole Truth" (4.57 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.48 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up new episodes of "Undercovers" (5.88 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #11), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.52 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T6) and "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (8.06 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #8).

And finally, a new "America's Next Top Model" (3.03 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #13) lead into a repeat of "Hellcats" (1.58 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) on The CW (2.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Law & Order: Los Angeles (26.30%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (18.20%), The Middle (8.30%), Criminal Minds (2.90%), Modern Family (0.00%), Better With You (0.00%), Undercovers (0.00%), Cougar Town (-3.10%), Survivor: Nicaragua (-5.40%), America's Next Top Model (-7.10%), The Defenders (-12.00%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (2.9/7) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.8/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (2.5/6). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.5/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.3/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/5) and "Daly" (0.9/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/21/09):

CBS (11.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1) was the most-watched network on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.00 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #9), "Gary Unmarried" (7.12 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8), "Criminal Minds" (13.72 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) and "CSI: NY" (12.56 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4).

Sharing the adults 18-49 crown then was FOX (7.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1) with fresh installments of "So You Think You Can Dance" (6.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7) and "Glee" (7.24 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T2).

Next up was ABC (6.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with its mix of "Hank" (5.84 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13), "The Middle" (6.42 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T10), "Modern Family" (8.57 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T2), "Cougar Town" (7.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) and "Eastwick" (4.93 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.7, #12).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.24 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up new episodes of "Mercy" (7.28 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T10), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.27 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and "The Jay Leno Show" (5.18 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13).

And finally, a new "America's Next Top Model" (3.13 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13) lead into a repeat of "Melrose Place" (1.05 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16) on The CW (2.09 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research