nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, october 16, 2011)

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

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals are approximate for FOX from 7-8p and for NBC on the night. Due to NFL overrun in over 13% of the US, Fast Nationals for CBS are approximate on the night.]

NBC (12.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1) held onto to the top spot on Sunday with its usual mix of "Football Night in America #1" (5.37 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T14), "Football Night in America #2" (8.06 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 3.0, #7), "Football Night in America #3" (12.73 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.6, #4) and "Sunday Night Football" (14.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.7, #2).

FOX (11.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) then was a competitive second place with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (23.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.7, #1), "The OT" (11.79 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.7, #3), a special "The X Factor" (8.74 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.4, #5) and a second hour of "The X Factor" (8.56 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.3, #6).

Next up was CBS (10.20 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with fresh installments of "60 Minutes" (11.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T12), "The Amazing Race" (9.26 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #9), "The Good Wife" (10.04 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11) and "CSI: Miami" (10.51 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.43 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.5, #16), the Friday-bound "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (7.10 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T12), "Desperate Housewives" (8.24 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.7, #8) and "Pan Am" (5.89 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T14) on ABC (6.92 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - CSI: Miami
+7.14% - America's Funniest Home Videos
0.00% - Desperate Housewives
-4.55% - The Good Wife
-5.00% - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
-5.26% - Pan Am
-7.41% - The Amazing Race
-27.85% - Sunday Night Football
-47.22% - 60 Minutes

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-11.11% - CSI: Miami
-12.31% - Sunday Night Football
-16.67% - America's Funniest Home Videos
-17.39% - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
-26.47% - The Amazing Race
-28.95% - Desperate Housewives
-32.14% - 60 Minutes
-33.33% - Pan Am (vs. Brothers & Sisters)
-37.31% - The Good Wife (vs. Undercover Boss)

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

NBC (14.25 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) continued its demo reign on Sunday with its coverage of "Sunday Night Football" (16.90 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.5, #2). Kicking off the night were its usual mix of "Football Night in America #1" (6.25 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15), "Football Night in America #2" (9.04 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T6) and "Football Night in America #3" (14.24 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.2, #3).

A silver medal then went to FOX (9.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) with its "NLCS, Game 2" (7.07 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15) coverage, preceded by "NFL Overrun" (17.79 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1), "The OT" (9.84 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.5, #5) and "NLCS, Game 2 Pre-Game" (8.90 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T9).

Next up was CBS (11.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) with its own "NFL Overrun" (12.27 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #13) followed by (half-hour results only) "60 Minutes" (12.51 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T9), "The Amazing Race 17" (11.27 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T6), "Undercover Boss" (12.09 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T6) and "CSI: Miami" (10.97 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T11).

And finally, ABC (9.26 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) closed out the evening with new episodes of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.07 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.8, #17), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8.59 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 2.3, #14), "Desperate Housewives" (12.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.8, #4) and "Brothers & Sisters" (8.96 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T11).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): America's Funniest Home Videos (20.00%), Sunday Night Football (14.00%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (0.00%), Desperate Housewives (0.00%), Brothers & Sisters (-3.60%), Undercover Boss (-4.30%), The Amazing Race 17 (-10.50%), 60 Minutes (-26.30%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research