nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, march 25, 2011)

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

CBS (8.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) saw its best numbers to date from its NCAA coverage with its mix of "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game #1" (6.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3), "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (7.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) and "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game #2" (9.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1).

NBC (7.59 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then took home the silver with new episodes of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (6.55 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T8) and "Dateline NBC" (8.11 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4).

Next up was FOX (3.98 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with fresh installments of "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.07 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T5) and "Fringe" (3.88 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T5).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up the return of "Shark Tank" (4.83 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10) followed by new episodes of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.45 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T8) and "20/20" (5.04 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.47 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11) and "Supernatural" (1.12 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11) on The CW (1.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (28.60%), Fringe (15.40%), Who Do You Think You Are? (8.30% vs. 3/4/11), Kitchen Nightmares (0.00%), 20/20 (0.00%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (-13.30%), Shark Tank (-36.80% vs. 3/20/11).

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

Not yet available.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/26/10):

Another night of "NCAA Basketball Championship" (10.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) coverage put CBS (10.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) in front on Friday.

The silver then went to ABC (6.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) with an encore of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" (5.45 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #5) followed by new episodes of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" (7.51 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) and "20/20" (6.25 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3).

Next up was NBC (6.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) with new episodes of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (6.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T6) and mainstay "Dateline NBC" (6.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T6).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) offered up a repeat of "House" (3.69 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8) followed by a new "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.29 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (1.44 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9), "Fly Girls" (0.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #10) and "High Society" (0.59 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11) on The CW (1.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research