nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, february 11, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (8.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) was the most-watched network on Friday with new episodes of "The Defenders" (7.92 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #8) and "CSI: NY" (9.66 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T2) followed by a repeat of "Blue Bloods" (7.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #7).

NBC (6.00 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) however was one of three networks to split the demo crown with week two of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (6.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4) and a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (5.70 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4). "Who" once again hit a series high among adults 18-49.

Next up was ABC (5.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) with repeats of "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" (4.08 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T9) and "A Charlie Brown Valentine" (3.64 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T9) followed by a special two-hour "20/20" (6.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) offered up new episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.72 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T2) and "Fringe" (3.71 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4).

And finally, fresh installments of "Smallville" (2.33 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) and "Supernatural" (1.96 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) on The CW (2.14 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Who Do You Think You Are? (7.70%), 20/20 (-5.90% vs. 1/28/11), Smallville (-10.00%), Supernatural (-10.00%), Kitchen Nightmares (-11.80%), Fringe (-12.50%), The Defenders (-15.40%), CSI: NY (-21.10%), Dateline NBC (-26.30%).

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

Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.1/4 with an encore delayed by an extended "Nightline."

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 0.9/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.3/2 with an encore delayed by an extended "Nightline."

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 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 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/12/10):

Coverage of the "Winter Olympics 2010: Opening Ceremony" (34.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.4, #1) not surprisingly dominated the competition as NBC (34.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.4, #1) beat the combined efforts of the other broadcast networks.

A distant second place then went to FOX (3.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) with a repeat of "House" (3.86 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) and a new "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.40 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) with its all-repeat lineup of "Surviving Survivor" (3.29 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7), "Undercover Boss" (4.19 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) and "NUMB3RS" (3.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.15 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) offered up the feature "Spider-Man 2.1" (3.15 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5).

And finally, a new "Smallville" (2.48 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5) lead into a repeat of "Smallville" (1.52 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9) on The CW (2.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research