nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, december 11, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 18 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 7-730p and for CBS and NBC on the night.]

NBC (18.64 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.9, #1) dominated the competition on Sunday with its usual mix of "Football Night in America #1" (7.84 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T11), "Football Night in America #2" (11.85 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 4.3, #4), "Football Night in America #3" (16.88 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.2, #2) and of course "Sunday Night Football" (22.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.5, #1).

CBS (13.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then took home a distant second place with its lineup of "NFL Overrun" (17.84 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.2, #3), "60 Minutes" (15.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #5), "The Amazing Race" (11.88 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #7), "The Good Wife" (11.24 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #13) and "CSI: Miami" (10.38 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #15).

Next up was FOX (5.99 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) served up its mix of "NFL Overrun/Bob's Burgers" (9.36 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.5, #6), a repeat of "The Cleveland Show" (4.12 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.8, #16) and new episodes of "The Simpsons" (6.45 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 3.0, #9), "The Cleveland Show" (4.98 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 2.3, #14), "Family Guy" (6.05 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 3.1, #8) and "American Dad" (4.99 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T11).

And finally, a repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.36 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #17) led into a new "Once Upon a Time" (8.91 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.9, #10) and the feature "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (3.70 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 1.3, #18) on ABC (5.92 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+105.56% - 60 Minutes
+30.77% - Sunday Night Football
+26.32% - The Good Wife
+18.52% - The Amazing Race
0.00% - American Dad
-4.17% - The Cleveland Show
-6.45% - Once Upon a Time
-9.09% - CSI: Miami
-11.43% - Family Guy
-25.00% - The Simpsons

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+20.83% - Once Upon a Time (vs. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition)
0.00% - Sunday Night Football
-7.50% - 60 Minutes
-8.57% - The Amazing Race
-9.09% - The Simpsons
-9.09% - CSI: Miami
-19.35% - American Dad
-20.00% - The Good Wife (vs. Undercover Boss)
-22.50% - Family Guy
-42.50% - The Cleveland Show (vs. Family Guy)

Here are the highlights of the 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/12/10):

A strong showing from "Sunday Night Football" (23.00 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 8.5, #1) had no trouble putting NBC (18.85 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.8, #1) in front last night. Leading off the evening were the usual pre-game specials "Football Night in America #1" (8.28 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T11), "Football Night in America #2" (11.17 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.9, #5) and "Football Night in America #3" (16.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.6, #2).

CBS (14.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) then claimed the silver with a half-hour "NFL Overrun" (24.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T11) followed by new episodes of "60 Minutes" (17.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #T3), "The Amazing Race 17" (11.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.5, #T6), "Undercover Boss" (10.96 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.0, #10) and "CSI: Miami" (9.61 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15).

Next up was FOX (6.17 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) with repeats of "Running Wilde" (3.54 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 1.2, #18) and "The Simpsons" (3.87 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.7, #17) followed by a new "The Simpsons" (7.31 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 3.3, #8), a one-hour "Family Guy" (8.02 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 4.0, #T3) and a new "American Dad" (6.26 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 3.1, #9).

And finally, a repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (8.80 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T15) led into new episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8.58 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.4, #14), "Desperate Housewives" (11.45 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.5, #T6) and "Brothers & Sisters" (8.77 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T11) on ABC (9.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 60 Minutes (48.10%), Family Guy (33.30%), The Amazing Race 17 (25.00%), American Dad (24.00%), Sunday Night Football (16.40%), Brothers & Sisters (13.60%), Undercover Boss (11.10%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (9.10%), Desperate Housewives (0.00%), CSI: Miami (-8.30%), The Simpsons (-21.40%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research