nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, december 24, 2010)

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

NBC (4.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) claimed the top spot on Christmas Eve with its presentation of "It's a Wonderful Life" (4.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1).

ABC (3.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and CBS (5.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) then shared the silver as the latter offered up second runs of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (4.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3), "CSI: NY" (5.01 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) and "Blue Bloods" (5.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

Next up was the Alphabet with its mix of "Disney Prep & Landing" (2.47 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6), "Phineas & Ferb Christmas Vacation" (2.05 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) and "Santa Clause 2" (3.53 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.14 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up the feature "Are We Done Yet?" (2.14 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.02 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) and "Supernatural" (1.05 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) on The CW (1.03 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Most regular late-night programming was pre-empted due to the Christmas Eve holiday.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/25/09):

ABC (3.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) and NBC (4.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) split the adults 18-49 crown on Friday as the former offered up the feature "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (3.81 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1).

The Peacock then served up repeats of "Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" (4.57 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) and "The Jay Leno Show" (3.69 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3).

Next up was CBS (4.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with repeats of "Ghost Whisperer" (3.78 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5), "Medium" (4.48 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) and "NUMB3RS" (5.26 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.52 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up unaired episodes of "'Til Death" (2.51 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8), another "'Til Death" (2.40 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #10), yet another "'Til Death" (2.43 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8) and even more "'Til Death" (2.74 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #7).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (0.84 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (0.92 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research