nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, september 16, 2011)

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

NBC (4.57 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) was the network to beat on Friday with its mix of the "2011 ALMA Awards" (2.90 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7) and a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (5.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1).

Sharing the silver was ABC (3.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and CBS (5.63 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) as the former offered up a repeat of "Shark Tank" (3.86 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5) followed by the season finale of "Karaoke Battle USA" (3.20 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #9) and "20/20" (4.48 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2).

The Eye then offered up a special "48 Hours Mystery" (4.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) alongside repeats of "CSI: NY" (5.76 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7) and "Blue Bloods" (6.39 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5).

Next up was FOX (2.10 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) with repeats of "Kitchen Nightmares" (2.55 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) and "Fringe" (1.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10).

And finally, encores of "Ringer" (1.90 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10) and "The Secret Circle" (1.61 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) on The CW (1.76 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 20/20 (20.0%), Karaoke Battle USA (-12.5%), Dateline NBC (-21.1%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release, the San Diego market is currently excluded):

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," 3.0/7; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

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" (1.0/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 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 (9/17/10):

ABC (4.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) closed the final Friday of the summer on top with its mix of "Wife Swap" (3.35 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.93 million viewers, #T5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) and "20/20" (7.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1).

NBC (5.53 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) then claimed the silver with a new two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) followed by an encore of "Outlaw" (3.93 million viewers, #T5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T6).

Next up was CBS (4.57 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with repeats of "Medium" (3.22 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9) and "CSI: NY" (4.35 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T6) along with the season finale of "Flashpoint" (6.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) was out of the hunt with repeats of "Human Target" (2.68 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #8) and "The Good Guys" (1.76 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10).

And finally, encores of "Hellcats" (1.48 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10) and "Nikita" (1.66 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10) on The CW (1.57 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research