nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, january 19, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

The return of "American Idol" (26.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.7, #1) not surprisingly put FOX (26.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.7, #1) on top on Wednesday. And while said numbers topped the combined efforts of ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW by 47%, they were nevertheless down 17% from last year's launch (29.78 million viewers; adults 18-49: 11.7 on 1/12/10).

ABC (7.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then had to settle for a distant second place with new episodes of "The Middle" (8.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4), "Better With You" (6.83 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7), "Modern Family" (11.10 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.6, #2), "Cougar Town" (6.08 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5) and "Off the Map" (5.84 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

Next up was CBS (9.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) with fresh installments of "Live to Dance" (5.32 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) and "Criminal Minds" (12.13 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) followed by the Wednesday premiere of "Blue Bloods" (12.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9). Both were series lows for "Live to Dance" and "Criminal Minds."

Meanwhile, NBC (5.44 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up new episodes of "Minute to Win It" (5.08 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10), the relocated "Chase" (4.34 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.89 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6). "Chase's" audience marked a series low.

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.58 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and"Hellcats" (0.81 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) on The CW (1.20 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Modern Family (27.8%), Blue Bloods (17.6% vs. 12/3/10), Minute to Win It (0.0%), Off the Map (-4.5%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (-8.0%), Better With You (-12.0% vs. 1/5/11), Criminal Minds (-12.5% vs. 12/15/10), The Middle (-12.9%), Cougar Town (-13.8% vs. 1/5/11), Live to Dance (-23.1%), Chase (-33.3% vs. 12/6/10).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) out-rated CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/20/10):

FOX (18.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1) coasted to another victory on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "American Idol" (26.73 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.8, #1) and "Human Target" (10.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T5).

The silver then went to CBS (11.85 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) with new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (6.46 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7), "Gary Unmarried" (6.17 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7), "Criminal Minds" (15.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2) and "CSI: NY" (13.89 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #4).

Next up was ABC (6.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with its mix of "Modern Family" (5.08 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10), "The Middle" (4.70 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9), another "Modern Family" (9.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.1, #3), "Cougar Town" (7.55 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T5) and "Ugly Betty" (4.59 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.35 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up a new "Mercy" (5.84 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12) followed by a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.59 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12) and a new "The Jay Leno Show" (4.61 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14).

And finally, repeats of "Life Unexpected" (1.72 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) and "Gossip Girl" (0.81 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #16) on The CW (1.27 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research