nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, november 2, 2010)

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

ABC (12.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) was the network to beat on Election Night with a 90-minute edition of "Dancing With the Stars" (16.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) followed by an "ABC News Special" (7.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #7).

NBC (6.53 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then claimed the silver with an abbreviated installment of "The Biggest Loser" (6.94 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) followed by its "NBC News Special" (6.33 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6).

Next up was CBS (9.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with repeats of "NCIS" (11.49 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) and "NCIS: Los Angeles" (11.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) followed by a "CBS News Special" (6.03 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #8).

Meanwhile, FOX (4.03 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up a repeat of "Glee" (5.08 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #5) and a "FOX News Special" (2.98 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T9).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (2.07 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T9) and "Life Unexpected" (1.83 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #11) on The CW (1.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Life Unexpected (28.6% vs. 10/19/10), Dancing With the Stars (4.3%), The Biggest Loser (0.0%), One Tree Hill (0.0% vs. 10/19/10).

Due to election coverage, late-night metered market ratings were not available for this date.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/3/09):

CBS (15.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) narrowly took home top honors on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "NCIS" (19.39 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) and "The Good Wife" (12.25 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #6).

ABC (12.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) then snagged a competitive second place with the premiere of "V" (13.95 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (14.48 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #5) and "The Forgotten" (7.62 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T8).

Next up was NBC (7.98 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (9.02 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #4) and "The Jay Leno Show" (5.89 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T8).

Meanwhile, FOX (6.08 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up another two-hour "So You Think You Can Dance" (6.08 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #7).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (2.07 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10) and "Melrose Place" (1.49 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11) on The CW (1.78 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research