nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, january 1, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 19 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (20.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.0, #1) posted its most-watched Sunday of the season thanks to "Football Night in America #1" (7.70 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6), "Football Night in America #2" (11.45 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.9, #4), "Football Night in America #3" (19.21 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.5, #3) and the season finale of "Sunday Night Football" (24.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 8.7, #1).

A distant silver then went to CBS (10.78 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (25.39 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #2) and "60 Minutes" (14.11 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) followed by repeats of "Unforgettable" (7.29 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T12), "The Good Wife" (6.26 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15) and "CSI: Miami" (5.76 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15).

Next up was FOX (3.90 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) and its lineup of "NFL Overrun" (4.59 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9), "The OT" (5.85 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7) as well as repeats of "The Simpsons" (3.60 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), "The Cleveland Show" (2.84 million viewers, #19; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T12), "Family Guy" (3.54 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8) and "American Dad" (3.00 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

And finally, repeats of "Once Upon a Time" (3.35 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.8, #19), another "Once Upon a Time" (4.12 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15), yet another "Once Upon a Time" (3.93 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15) and even more "Once Upon a Time" (3.80 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14) on ABC (3.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+227.78% - 60 Minutes +28.24% - Sunday Night Football

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+52.98% - Sunday Night Football +47.50% - 60 Minutes

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/2/11):

NBC (14.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1) was the network to beat with the season finale of "Sunday Night Football" (15.80 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.7, #2). Leading into said coverage were its usual combination of "Football Night in America #1" (8.63 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.8, #8), "Football Night in America #2" (10.83 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.9, #4) and "Football Night in America #3" (15.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.5, #3).

FOX (8.58 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) then took home the silver with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (18.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.7, #1) and "The OT" (10.02 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.6, #6) followed by repeats of "The Simpsons" (6.25 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T9), "The Cleveland Show" (4.98 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 2.2, #15) and a one-hour "Family Guy" (5.73 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 2.6, #12).

Next up was ABC (9.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with the return of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (8.21 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.1, #16), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (9.35 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T9), "Desperate Housewives" (12.10 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.8, #5) and "Brothers & Sisters" (7.97 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 2.4, #14).

And finally, "NFL Overrun" (14.49 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #7) on CBS (11.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) led into a new "60 Minutes" (12.19 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #17), the relocated "CSI: Miami" (11.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #13), a new "Undercover Boss" (10.68 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T9) and a repeat of "CSI: Miami" (7.47 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.8, #18).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): CSI: Miami (13.60% vs. 12/12/10), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (12.50% vs. 12/12/10), America's Funniest Home Videos (10.50% vs. 12/5/10), Desperate Housewives (8.60% vs. 12/12/10), 60 Minutes (5.30%), Brothers & Sisters (-4.00% vs. 12/12/10), Undercover Boss (-10.00% vs. 12/12/10), Sunday Night Football (-32.90% vs. 12/19/10).

Source: Nielsen Media Research