nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, december 31, 2010)

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

ABC (6.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) closed out 2010 on top with a rebroadcast of "Wild Hogs" (5.54 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) followed by the primetime portion of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2011" (9.14 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1).

NBC (3.83 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then claimed a distant second place with repeats of "Minute to Win It" (3.75 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4), another "Minute to Win It" (3.86 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5) and the primetime portion of "NBC's New Year's Eve With Carson Daly" (3.87 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3).

Next up was CBS (6.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (6.59 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5), "CSI: NY" (6.13 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5) and "Blue Bloods" (6.07 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.03 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up the theatrical "Rocky Balboa" (2.03 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.19 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #10) and "Supernatural" (1.06 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) on The CW (1.12 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening.

Late-night ratings will be available later today.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/1/10):

FOX (14.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1) was the network to beat with its "All-State Sugar Bowl" (16.05 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.1, #2) coverage. Leading off the night was a half-hour "All-State Sugar Bowl Pre-Game" (5.86 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3).

ABC (7.16 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then took home the silver thanks to a half-hour of "Rose Bowl Overrun" (19.95 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) followed by new episodes of "Better Off Ted" (5.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4), "Scrubs" (3.53 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #6), a repeat of "Better Off Ted" (2.74 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and a new "20/20" (5.57 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #5).

Next up was CBS (4.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "Ghost Whisperer" (4.51 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7), "Medium" (4.68 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7) and "NUMB3RS" (4.91 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up its encore of "The Biggest Loser" (3.38 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) finale followed by a repeat of "The Jay Leno Show" (3.36 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7).

And finally, a full night of "Smallville" (1.24 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13) repeats on The CW (1.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research