nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, july 17, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (6.37 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) latched onto the top spot on Sunday with its mix of "60 Minutes" (8.50 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8), "Big Brother 13" (6.89 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1), "Undercover Boss" (4.74 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T6) and "CSI: Miami" (5.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T6).

Second place then went to FOX (2.81 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) and its all-repeat mix of "American Dad" (1.72 million viewers, #17; adults 18-9: 0.8, #T13), "Bob's Burgers" (1.76 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13), "The Simpsons" (3.14 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4), "The Cleveland Show" (2.91 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5), "Family Guy" (3.80 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) and another "American Dad" (3.51 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3).

Next up was ABC (4.17 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) with encores of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (4.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (3.87 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10), "Castle" (3.85 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T16) and "Body of Proof" (4.02 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T16).

And finally, NBC (3.99 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) closed out the night with its combination of "Dateline NBC" (3.63 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13), "America's Got Talent" (4.57 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10) and "The Marriage Ref" (3.18 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Marriage Ref (25.0%), Big Brother 13 (-4.0%).

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/18/10):

FOX (3.25 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) took home another adults 18-49 victory on Sunday thanks to its mix of "Sons of Tucson" (1.51 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.6, #17), "American Dad" (1.95 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T14), "The Simpsons" (3.56 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T5), "The Cleveland Show" (3.81 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4), "Family Guy" (4.24 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) and another "Family Guy" (4.44 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2).

CBS (6.36 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) however was the most-watched network with its lineup of "60 Minutes" (7.63 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T12), "Big Brother 12" (6.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (5.05 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10) and "Cold Case" (5.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

Next up was NBC (4.60 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) and its mix of "Dateline NBC" (4.54 million viewers, #T7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (4.54 million viewers, #T7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T14) and a two-hour "America's Got Talent" (4.66 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T5).

And finally, repeats of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.68 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7) and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (4.54 million viewers, #T7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) lead into new episodes of "Scoundrels" (3.16 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #16) and "The Gates" (2.97 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T12) on ABC (4.09 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4).

Source: Nielsen Media Research