nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, april 27, 2011)

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

FOX (18.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) once again was the network to beat on Wednesday with fresh installments of "American Idol" (21.67 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.9, #1) and "Breaking In" (7.61 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3).

CBS (9.16 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then took home the silver with a new "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) followed by repeats of "Criminal Minds" (9.14 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (7.47 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9).

Next up was NBC (5.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T3) with its "Inside the Royal Wedding" (5.21 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) special followed by an encore of "The Voice" (6.05 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.21 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T3) offered up its mix of a repeat "The Middle" (5.19 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12), "Better With You" (4.82 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #11) - a series low, a repeat "Modern Family" (6.02 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8), "Cougar Town" (5.61 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4) - a season low, "Happy Endings" (5.22 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4) and another "Modern Family" (4.42 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9).

And finally, a repeat of "America's Next Top Model" (1.19 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (2.32 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) on The CW (1.76 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): America's Next Top Model (42.90%), Happy Endings (16.70%), Breaking In (4.00%), American Idol (1.50%), Survivor: Redemption Island (0.00%), Better With You (-6.30%), Cougar Town (-12.50%).

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

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 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.4/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/28/10):

FOX (12.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1) held off the competition on Thursday thanks to a new "American Idol" (19.39 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1) results show. Leading off the night was a repeat of "Lie to Me" (5.28 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8).

Second place then went to ABC (6.53 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) with a repeat of "The Middle" (5.32 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T11) followed by new episodes of "The Middle" (7.11 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5), "Modern Family" (9.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "Cougar Town" (6.45 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) and the premiere of "Happy Town" (5.23 million viewers, #T12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8).

Next up was NBC (6.52 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) with a repeat of "Minute to Win It" (5.23 million viewers, #T12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T11) and fresh episodes of "Mercy" (4.96 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3).

Meanwhile, CBS (7.45 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) served up its all-repeat lineup of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (5.28 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T13), "Two and a Half Men" (6.34 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7), "Criminal Minds" (8.81 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6) and "CSI: NY" (7.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (3.27 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T13) and "Fly Girls" (1.03 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T16) lead into the season finale of "High Society" (0.91 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T16) on The CW (2.12 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research