nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, september 21, 2011)

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

FOX (12.14 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) slipped by ABC (11.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2) on Wednesday thanks to the debut of "The X Factor" (11.72 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 4.1, #T4) and a second installment of "The X Factor" (12.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.5, #3). This marks FOX's first premiere week win on Wednesday nights since 1993 ("Beverly Hills, 90210"/"Melrose Place") among adults 18-49.

The Alphabet then offered up the season premiere of "The Middle" (9.35 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.8, #10), a second "The Middle" (9.92 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.2, #7), the return "Modern Family" (14.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.9, #2), its second "Modern Family" (14.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) and the launch of "Revenge" (10.15 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.4, #6). Both comedies posted series highs while "Revenge" was the network's best launch in the hour since 2007's "Dirty Sexy Money."

Next up was CBS (12.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) with a new "Survivor: South Pacific" (10.36 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8) alongside the season premieres of "Criminal Minds" (14.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.1, #T4) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (12.59 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8). "Survivor" ties its lowest rated original ever.

Meanwhile, NBC (6.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up week two of "Up All Night" (6.04 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T11) and "Free Agents" (3.86 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #13) plus the return of "Harry's Law" (7.30 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14) - a series low - and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.60 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T11).

And finally, new episodes of "H8R" (1.09 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #16) and "America's Next Top Model" (1.56 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) on The CW (1.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "H8R" posted a 0.6 rating while "Top Model" delivered a 1.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-8.82% - Survivor: South Pacific
-22.22% - America's Next Top Model
-33.33% - H8R
-37.84% - Up All Night
-38.10% - Free Agents

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+112.50% - Revenge (vs. The Whole Truth)
+81.82% - Modern Family - 9:30 (vs. Cougar Town)
+57.69% - The X Factor - 8:00 (vs. Hell's Kitchen)
+40.63% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. Hell's Kitchen)
+28.00% - The Middle - 8:30 (vs. Better With You)
+18.00% - Modern Family - 9:00
+9.52% - Up All Night (vs. Undercovers)
+7.69% - The Middle - 8:00
+6.90% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. The Defenders)
+2.50% - Criminal Minds
-22.50% - Survivor: South Pacific
-30.00% - America's Next Top Model (vs. Hellcats)
-34.29% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (S))
-38.10% - Free Agents (vs. Undercovers)
-60.00% - Harry's Law (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
-69.23% - H8R (vs. America's Next Top Model)

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," 2.9/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

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" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 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 (9/22/10):

CBS (12.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday thanks to a new "Survivor: Nicaragua" (12.47 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #T2), the return of "Criminal Minds" (14.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #T2) and the debut of "The Defenders" (12.09 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #8).

That 2.9 adults 18-49 rating for "Defenders" is down from "CSI: NY's" opener a year ago (-27.5%), but best in the Wednesday, 10:00/9:00c slot since 3/3/10.

Second place then went to upstart FOX (6.57 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) with the season premiere of "Hell's Kitchen" (5.95 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9) and a second episode of "Hell's Kitchen" (7.19 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.2, #6).

Next up was NBC (9.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T3) with the series premiere of "Undercovers" (8.57 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #12) followed by the season opener to "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.68 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #7) and a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10.36 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4).

"Undercovers's" 2.1 adults 18-49 rating came in just under "Mercy's" launch in said time period last season (-8.7%).

Sharing the bronze was ABC (7.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T3) with the respective premieres of "The Middle" (8.81 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9), "Better With You" (7.97 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.5, #11), "Modern Family" (12.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1), "Cougar Town" (8.34 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5) and "The Whole Truth" (4.91 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.6, #13).

Year-to-year, "Better With You" was even with "The Middle's" launch on 9/30/09 while "Whole Truth's" 1.6 adults 18-49 rating was well shy of "Eastwick's" debut (-46.7%).

And finally, week three of "America's Next Top Model" (2.82 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14) and "Hellcats" (2.32 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #15) on The CW (2.57 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) rounded out the evening.

In late-night metered market ratings, NBC's "Leno" (3.3/9) took top honors over ABC's "Nightline" (2.7/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.2/8). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.4/4) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.6/6) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.6/6) and "Daly" (1.0/4) on NBC.

Source: Nielsen Media Research