nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, march 9, 2011)

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

FOX (24.24 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.0, #1) as usual was the network to beat with a two-hour "American Idol" (24.24 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.0, #1).

CBS (9.41 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then claimed a distant second place with a new "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) followed by a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (8.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T5) and a new "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (9.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4), in a series low.

Next up was ABC (4.95 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) with repeats of "The Middle" (5.37 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7), a second "The Middle" (4.77 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7), "Modern Family" (6.16 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) and new episodes of "Mr. Sunshine" (4.79 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T5) and "Off the Map" (4.31 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up a new "Minute to Win It" (3.47 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12) alongside repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.25 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) and a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.30 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (2.33 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11) and "Shedding for the Wedding" (1.03 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) on The CW (1.68 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Shedding for the Wedding (25.00%), America's Next Top Model (22.20%), American Idol (3.90%), Minute to Win It (0.00%), Survivor: Redemption Island (-3.00%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (-15.40%), Off the Map (-17.60%), Mr. Sunshine (-25.00%).

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," 2.7/7 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households with an encore) tied CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 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 (3/10/10):

Fresh installments of "Human Target" (7.83 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #7) and "American Idol" (20.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.5, #1) put FOX (14.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1) in the top spot on Wednesday.

CBS (10.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then claimed the silver with new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.86 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8), "Gary Unmarried" (6.83 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10), "Criminal Minds" (13.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) and "CSI: NY" (11.03 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T4).

Next up was ABC (5.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with the return of "Scrubs" (4.31 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T12) followed by new episodes of "The Middle" (6.32 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8), "Modern Family" (8.95 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2), "Cougar Town" (6.15 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T4) and "Ugly Betty" (3.90 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T14).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up a new "Mercy" (6.33 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T12), a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.42 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T14) and a new "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.57 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T4).

And finally, the 90-minute season premiere of "America's Next Top Model" (3.75 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11) lead into the launch of "High Society" (1.39 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.6, #16) on The CW (3.16 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research