nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, august 4, 2011)

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

CBS (6.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3), "Rules of Engagement" (5.33 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5), "Big Brother 13" (7.27 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) and "The Mentalist" (5.89 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #8).

ABC (5.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "Wipeout" (6.57 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2), "Expedition Impossible" (4.78 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5) and "Rookie Blue" (5.09 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7).

Next up was FOX (4.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with a new "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.16 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) and an encore of "Glee" (2.86 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) was out of the hunt with its all-repeat lineup of "Community" (2.12 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14), "Parks & Recreation" (1.99 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13), "The Office" (2.41 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T9), "30 Rock" (2.05 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.57 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T9).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.21 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) and "Plain Jane" (0.79 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) on The CW (1.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Big Brother 13 (3.8%), Wipeout (0.0%), Rookie Blue (0.0%), So You Think You Can Dance (-5.9%), Expedition Impossible (-12.5%).

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

In In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.6/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.1/3.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/3; "Late Show," 0.5/2; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 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 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/5/10):

ABC (6.08 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1) and CBS (6.68 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1) shared the adults 18-49 crown on Thursday as the former offered up a repeat of "Wipeout" (6.49 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) followed by new episodes of "Rookie Blue" (6.85 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T3) and "Boston Med" (4.91 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5).

The Eye then served up a new "Big Brother 12" (7.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) alongside repeats of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (5.98 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and "The Mentalist" (7.05 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5).

Next up was FOX (4.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with a repeat of "Glee" (3.82 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and a new "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.53 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T3).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) was all repeats with its mix of "Community" (2.77 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10), "30 Rock" (2.41 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T12), "The Office" (2.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7), "Parks & Recreation" (2.41 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T12) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.22 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) and "Moonlight" (1.14 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) on The CW (1.18 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research