nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, january 24, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to live State of the Union coverage, Fast Nationals for FOX, ABC, CBS, and NBC are approximate.]

FOX (6.99 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) held onto the demo crown with a repeat of "American Idol" (9.51 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) and the "FOX News Special" (5.30 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5).

NBC (6.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) then snagged the silver with a new "The Biggest Loser 13" (6.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) followed by its "NBC News Special" (7.13 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T3) and a half-hour of "State of the Union Analysis" (5.26 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10).

Next up was CBS (8.39 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) with an encore of "NCIS" (12.37 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T3), its "CBS News Special" (7.11 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #6) and a repeat of "The Big Bang Theory" (4.29 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.40 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up repeats of "Last Man Standing" (5.53 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7) and "Last Man Standing" (5.23 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7) alongside its "ABC News Special" (5.96 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7) and a repeat of "Modern Family" (3.77 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11).

Collectively across FOX, ABC, CBS, and NBC, the State of the Union drew 25.49 million viewers, on par with last year's audience of 26.23 million.

And finally, a new "90210" (1.28 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) led into week two of "Remodeled" (0.94 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (1.11 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.0 rating while "Remodeled" posted a 0.5 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Remodeled
+16.67% - 90210
-8.70% - The Biggest Loser 13

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-22.22% - 90210
-30.00% - The Biggest Loser 13
-55.56% - Remodeled

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," 2.5/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/6 with an encore delayed by news coverage; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore delayed by news coverage; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.3/2

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/3 with an encore delayed by news coverage). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 with an encore delayed by news coverage).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9 with an encore 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 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/25/11):

NBC (7.79 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) took home top demo honors on a State of the Union-driven Tuesday with its mix of "The Biggest Loser" (8.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1), "NBC News Special" (8.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T2), "NBC News Special/State of the Union Analysis" (7.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) and "State of the Union Analysis" (5.20 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T8).

CBS (9.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) then had to settle for second place with a repeat of "NCIS" (13.17 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T2) followed by a "CBS News Special" (8.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5), "CBS News Special/State of the Union Analysis" (7.24 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T8) and "State of the Union Analysis/The Big Bang Theory" (5.11 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #15).

Next up was FOX (3.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with a repeat of "Glee" (4.69 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T6) and a "FOX News Special" (3.41 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11), "FOX News Special/State of the Union Analysis" (3.76 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12) and "State of the Union Analysis" (3.67 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T13).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.23 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up a second run of "No Ordinary Family" (4.38 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T13) alongside its "ABC News Special" (6.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T6), "ABC News Special/State of the Union Analysis" (6.23 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T8) and "State of the Union Analysis/Cougar Town" (2.95 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.7, #18).

And finally, the return of "One Tree Hill" (1.88 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T16) and "Hellcats" (2.16 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T16) on The CW (2.02 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Hellcats (12.50% vs. 12/1/10), The Biggest Loser (7.10%), One Tree Hill (-10.00% vs. 12/7/10).

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5 with an encore delayed by news coverage; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore delayed by news coverage; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 delayed by news coverage). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 delayed by news coverage).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research