nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, december 5, 2010)

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

NBC (16.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) held off the competition yet again on Sunday with its mix of "Football Night in America #1" (5.83 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T18), "Football Night in America #2" (8.33 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T10), "Football Night in America #3" (15.18 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.0, #4) and "Sunday Night Football" (19.84 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 7.3, #2).

FOX (11.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.6, #2) then posted a strong second with its combination of "NFL Overrun" (26.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.3, #1), "The OT" (15.24 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.8, #3), "The Simpsons" (9.56 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 4.2, #5), "The Cleveland Show" (7.05 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 3.2, #7), another "The Cleveland Show" (5.98 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T8) and "American Dad" (5.28 million viewers, #19; adults 18-49: 2.5, #13).

Next up was CBS (10.89 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with its own "NFL Overrun" (10.33 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T18) followed by new episodes of (half-hour results only) "60 Minutes" (12.34 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T10), "The Amazing Race 17" (9.88 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T8), "Undercover Boss" (10.89 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T10) and "CSI: Miami" (10.61 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #14).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.76 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.9, #17), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8.10 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15), "Desperate Housewives" (11.21 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.5, #6) and "Brothers & Sisters" (7.72 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15) on ABC (8.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 60 Minutes (28.60%), Sunday Night Football (22.50%), CSI: Miami (9.10% vs. 11/21/10), The Simpsons (2.40%), America's Funniest Home Videos (0.00% vs. 11/21/10), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (0.00% vs. 11/14/10), Desperate Housewives (-5.40% vs. 11/14/10), The Cleveland Show (-5.90%), The Amazing Race 17 (-9.70%), Brothers & Sisters (-12.00% vs. 11/14/10), Undercover Boss (-12.90% vs. 11/21/10), American Dad (-13.80%).

Here are the highlights of the 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/6/09):

NBC (16.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) continues its Sunday reign thanks to its weekly "Sunday Night Football" (18.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.8, #2) coverage. Leading off the night for the Peacock were its pre-game specials "Football Night in America #1" (6.78 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 2.3, #13), "Football Night in America #2" (8.92 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.3, #9) and "Football Night in America #3" (13.40 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.7, #4).

The silver then went to FOX (9.45 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (20.93 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.8, #1), "The OT" (11.10 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.5, #5), "BCS Selection Show" (8.57 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 3.4, #8) and repeats of "The Simpsons" (5.57 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 2.6, #12), "Family Guy" (6.13 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T10) and "American Dad" (4.38 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T15).

Next up was ABC (11.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) with its mainstays "America's Funniest Home Videos" (8.19 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.0, #17), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (10.33 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T10), "Desperate Housewives" (14.71 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.8, #3) and "Brothers & Sisters" (10.88 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T6).

And finally, CBS (10.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up a new "60 Minutes" (11.81 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T15), the season finale of "The Amazing Race 15" (12.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T6), the officially relocated "Cold Case" (9.71 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #14) and a repeat of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (7.30 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.6, #18).

Source: Nielsen Media Research