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

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

FOX (18.79 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday thanks to another 90-minute "American Idol" (22.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.7, #1) followed by a special "Traffic Light" (7.40 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5), which hit a series high.

CBS (12.00 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then claimed the silver with its week three mix of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (11.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4), "Criminal Minds" (14.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (10.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6).

Third place went to ABC (6.86 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with fresh installments of "The Middle" (8.12 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #8), "Better With You" (5.93 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9), "Modern Family" (10.11 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "Mr. Sunshine" (7.03 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #7) and "Off the Map" (4.98 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.07 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up a repeat of "Minute to Win It #1" (3.32 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T12) followed by a new "Minute to Win It #2" (3.55 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T12) and a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.34 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (2.00 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14) and "Shedding for the Wedding" (1.12 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) on The CW (1.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Criminal Minds (5.90%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (4.00%), Better With You (0.00%), Modern Family (0.00%), Mr. Sunshine (0.00%), Off the Map (0.00%), Survivor: Redemption Island (0.00%), American Idol (-2.50%), The Middle (-4.20%), America's Next Top Model (-18.20%), Shedding for the Wedding (-20.00%), Minute to Win It #2 (-23.10%).

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4. 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" (1.4/5). 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 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 (3/3/10):

A two-hour "American Idol" (23.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.5, #1) steamrolled the competition as FOX (23.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.5, #1) took home top honors last night.

The silver then went to CBS (10.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) with new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (5.95 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), "Gary Unmarried" (6.02 million viewers, #T8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9), "Criminal Minds" (13.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) and "CSI: NY" (12.45 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4).

Next up was NBC (7.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with fresh installments of "Mercy" (6.04 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.48 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6) and a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.04 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5).

Falling to fourth was ABC (5.57 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) with its mix of "Modern Family" (5.18 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), "The Middle" (6.02 million viewers, #T8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8), another "Modern Family" (8.08 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.5, #33), "Cougar Town" (5.39 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.4, #7) and "The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special" (4.37 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #13).

And finally, repeats of "Life Unexpected" (1.05 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) and "Gossip Girl" (0.48 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.2, #15) on The CW (0.77 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research