nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, october 31, 2010)

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

NBC (13.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.2, #1) took home the demo crown on Sunday thanks to its usual mix of "Football Night in America #1" (4.52 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12), "Football Night in America #2" (6.84 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7), "Football Night in America #3" (12.47 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.8, #2) and "Sunday Night Football" (16.36 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1).

FOX (13.33 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) then had to settle for second place with its coverage of the "World Series, Game 4" (13.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #3).

Next up was CBS (10.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with its combination of "60 Minutes" (10.74 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), "The Amazing Race 17" (9.22 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7), "Undercover Boss" (10.39 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) and "CSI: Miami" (9.86 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.83 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (6.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10), "Desperate Housewives" (10.98 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4) and "Brothers & Sisters" (8.16 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #9) on ABC (7.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): CSI: Miami (8.30%), Desperate Housewives (-10.30%), Undercover Boss (-10.60%), Brothers & Sisters (-11.50%), America's Funniest Home Videos (-22.20%), Sunday Night Football (-23.30%), The Amazing Race 17 (-24.20%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (-25.00%), 60 Minutes (-51.50%).

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/1/09):

FOX (21.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.4, #1) towered over the competition on Sunday thanks to its mix of "NFL Overrun" (30.57 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 11.2, #1), "The OT" (18.24 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.5, #3) and "World Series, Game 4" (20.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.9, #2).

The silver then went to ABC (10.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) with its combination of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.84 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (10.75 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.4, #5), "Desperate Housewives" (13.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.0, #4) and "Brothers & Sisters" (9.37 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.3, #6).

Next up was CBS (9.94 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with new episodes of "60 Minutes" (12.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8), "The Amazing Race 15" (11.10 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.2, #7), "Three Rivers" (7.71 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10) and "Cold Case" (8.64 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12).

And finally, a new "Football Night in America #1" (2.57 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) lead into a repeat of "National Treasure" (4.59 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10) on NBC (4.36 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4).

Source: Nielsen Media Research