nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, january 16, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

A full hour of "NFL Overrun" (40.63 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 13.6, #1) put CBS (20.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) in front on Sunday. Leading out of said coverage were new episodes of "60 Minutes" (17.25 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.1, #3), "Undercover Boss" (13.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5) and "CSI: Miami" (10.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #10).

NBC (12.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of the "Golden Globes Red Carpet" (8.22 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T12) and "The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards" (14.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.5, #2).

Next up was FOX (5.07 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with its deflated (absent last week's NFL overrun) mix of a "The Simpsons" (2.64 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.2, #15) repeat followed by new episodes of "American Dad" (3.58 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.7, #14), "The Simpsons" (6.47 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T6), "Bob's Burgers" (5.10 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 2.6, #9), "Family Guy" (7.08 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.7, #4) and "The Cleveland Show" (5.55 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.7, #8)

And finally, ABC (7.78 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) rounded out the evening with new episodes of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.87 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #16), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (7.94 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T12), "Desperate Housewives" (10.08 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T6) and "Brothers & Sisters" (10.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11). Said demo numbers for "Housewives" marked its lowest ever for an original episode while "Brothers" tied its own low.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 60 Minutes (156.30%), Undercover Boss (10.00%), CSI: Miami (-4.00%), Brothers & Sisters (-8.70%), Desperate Housewives (-18.40%), Family Guy (-21.30%), The Cleveland Show (-22.90%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (-23.10%), America's Funniest Home Videos (-38.90%), Bob's Burgers (-42.20%), American Dad (-45.20% vs. 12/12/10), The Simpsons (-45.60%).

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/17/10):

CBS (17.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1) took home top honors on a busy Sunday in no small part due to a full hour of "NFL Overrun" (34.20 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 11.3, #1). Leading out of said coverage were new episodes of "60 Minutes" (16.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.5, #3) and "Cold Case" (10.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #8) followed by a repeat of "NCIS" (9.58 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10).

Second place then fell to NBC (12.95 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2) with its mix of the "Golden Globes Red Carpet Special" (9.38 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9) and the actual "67 Annual Golden Globe Awards" (14.14 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.7, #2).

Next up was FOX (8.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with a repeat of "24" (3.74 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) followed by the launch of "Human Target" (10.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6), the return of "24" (11.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.0, #T) and a second hour of "24" (11.33 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.9, #4).

And finally, ABC (8.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) rounded out the evening with new episodes of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.33 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #12), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (6.48 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11), "Desperate Housewives" (11.22 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.7, #5) and "Brothers & Sisters" (8.05 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7).

Source: Nielsen Media Research