nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, july 15, 2011)

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

ABC (4.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) narrowly took home top demo honors on Friday with its mix of "Shark Tank" (4.28 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.97 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1) and a new "20/20" (4.55 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1).

CBS (6.20 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then remained the most-watched network with a new "Flashpoint" (6.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1) followed by repeats of "CSI: NY" (6.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #6) and "Blue Bloods" (6.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #7).

Next up was NBC (4.25 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with the 90-minute series finale of "Friday Night Lights" (3.49 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #8) alongside a 90-minute "Dateline NBC" (5.02 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.75 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) offered up repeats of "Bones" (3.05 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9) adn "House" (2.46 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9).

And finally, The CW (1.16 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) did the same with the departing "Smallville" (1.18 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11) and "Supernatural" (1.14 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Friday Night Lights (28.60%), Flashpoint (0.00%), 20/20 (-14.30%), Dateline NBC (-20.00%).

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; 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; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/16/10):

ABC (5.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) snagged top honors on Friday thanks to its mix of "Wife Swap" (3.50 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (5.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1) and "20/20" (6.83 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1).

NBC (3.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then claimed the silver with its presentation of "The Jensen Project" (3.86 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7) followed by a one-hour "Dateline NBC" (3.71 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3).

Next up was CBS (4.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) with repeats of "48 Hours Mystery" (5.05 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) and "Medium" (3.34 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7) followed by a new "Flashpoint" (5.76 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3).

Sharing the bronze was FOX (3.02 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) with repeats of "House" (2.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7) and "Bones" (3.25 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.35 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #11) and "Supernatural" (0.94 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) on The CW (1.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research