nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, february 2, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (17.14 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) was once again the network to beat on Wednesday with a new "American Idol" (24.93 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.9, #1) followed by the penultimate week of "Human Target" (9.34 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6).

Second place then went to NBC (8.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) with a new "Minute to Win It" (5.87 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), a second new "Minute to Win It" (9.53 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) - a series high, and a fresh "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.80 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4).

Next up was ABC (6.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with repeats of "The Middle" (6.91 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), another "The Middle" (6.54 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T8) and "Modern Family" (9.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2) followed by the winter finale of "Cougar Town" (6.60 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5) and a new "Off the Map" (5.31 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T8).

Meanwhile, CBS (8.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its penultimate week of "Live to Dance" (4.80 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13) followed by a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (9.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7) and a new "Blue Bloods" (11.21 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.18 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T14) and "Supernatural" (1.02 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T14) on The CW (1.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Cougar Town (28.60%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (26.10% vs. 1/19/11), Human Target (23.80% vs. 1/31/11), Minute to Win It (21.40%), Off the Map (0.00%), American Idol (-3.30%), Live to Dance (-9.10%), Blue Bloods (-20.00%).

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

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets (with four markets excluded today), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

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," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

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

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/3/10):

FOX (14.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "Human Target" (7.72 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8) and "American Idol" (20.83 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.7, #1).

The silver then went to CBS (13.37 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) with its annual "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2010" (11.18 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T5) special followed by new episodes of "Criminal Minds" (14.78 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #3) and "CSI: NY" (14.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.4, #4).

Next up was ABC (6.25 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with new episodes of "The Middle" (7.31 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7), "Modern Family" (9.07 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2), "Cougar Town" (6.19 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T5) and "Ugly Betty" (4.06 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #11). A repeat of "Modern Family" (6.84 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8) kicked off the night.

Meanwhile, NBC (4.85 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up its mix of "Mercy" (6.25 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.14 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.16 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12).

And finally, repeats of "Life Unexpected" (1.36 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) and "Gossip Girl" (0.50 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.2, #15) on The CW (0.93 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research