nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, april 3, 2011)

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

CBS (12.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) claimed top honors on Sunday thanks to a new "60 Minutes" (10.29 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12) followed by "The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" (12.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1).

Said numbers were on par with last year's ceremony (13.05 million viewers; adults 18-49: 3.1 on 4/18/10).

ABC (8.39 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) then took home the silver with its mix of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.60 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10), "Secret Millionaire" (9.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4), "Desperate Housewives" (8.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and a special "Body of Proof" (8.44 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7).

Next up was NBC (6.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with fresh installments of "Dateline NBC" (5.17 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #15), "America's Next Great Restaurant" (3.92 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (8.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2).

Meanwhile, FOX (4.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up its combination of a "The Simpsons" (2.77 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.1, #14) repeat, a new "American Dad" (3.58 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10), repeats of "The Simpsons" (4.53 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8), "Bob's Burgers" (3.82 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9), "Family Guy" (4.86 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T5) and a new "The Cleveland Show" (4.82 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (66.70%), America's Next Great Restaurant (7.70%), The Celebrity Apprentice (0.00%), America's Funniest Home Videos (0.00%), Secret Millionaire (-3.70%), Desperate Housewives (-17.60% vs. 3/6/11), The Cleveland Show (-18.50% vs. 3/20/11), Body of Proof (-33.30% vs. 3/29/11), American Dad (-36.00%), 60 Minutes (-50.00%).

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/4/10):

CBS (10.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) won the Easter holiday thanks to new episodes of "60 Minutes" (8.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9), "The Amazing Race 16" (9.14 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3), "Undercover Boss" (12.86 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) and "Cold Case" (10.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T4).

The silver then went to NBC (5.93 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) with fresh installments of "Dateline NBC" (4.05 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14), "Minute to Win It" (5.41 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (7.13 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2).

Over on ABC (6.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3), repeats of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.76 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) and "Brothers & Sisters" (3.72 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) bookended a new two-hour "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (7.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T4).

And finally, FOX (3.03 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) closed out the evening with its mix of "'Til Death" (1.53 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16), another "'Til Death" (1.85 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15), repeats of "The Simpsons" (3.40 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9), "The Cleveland Show" (3.68 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8), "Family Guy" (4.61 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6) and a new "Sons of Tucson" (3.13 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9).

Source: Nielsen Media Research