nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, january 25, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (15.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.2, #1) cruised to victory on Wednesday with a new "American Idol" (19.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) followed by the series preview of "Touch" (11.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2). Said numbers marked this season's second highest rated drama opening ("Once Upon a Time") not to mention was FOX's highest-rated drama opening in three years ("Lie to Me") and the highest retention for a drama opening after "Idol" ever.

CBS (11.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then claimed the silver with a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (7.91 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T6) followed by new episodes of "Criminal Minds" (13.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (14.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4).

Next up was ABC (4.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "The Middle" (5.26 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #8), "Suburgatory" (4.21 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9), "Modern Family" (6.49 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5), "Happy Endings" (4.02 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T6) and "Revenge" (3.12 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up new episodes of "Whitney" (4.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9) and "Are You There, Chelsea?" (3.90 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9) as well as repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.75 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) and another "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.01 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9).

And finally, a new "One Tree Hill" (1.47 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) led into an encore of "Remodeled" (0.66 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) on The CW (1.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Hill" delivered a 1.5 rating while "Remodeled" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+17.86% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
+12.50% - Criminal Minds
0.00% - One Tree Hill
-11.11% - American Idol
-12.50% - Whitney
-22.22% - Are You There, Chelsea?

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - One Tree Hill (vs. Nikita (Repeat))
+65.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Blue Bloods)
+28.57% - Criminal Minds
-12.50% - Whitney (vs. Minute to Win It)
-12.50% - Are You There, Chelsea? (vs. Minute to Win It)
-34.02% - American Idol
-59.79% - Touch (vs. American Idol)

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," 2.6/7 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; 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 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/26/11):

FOX (25.20 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1) took the top spot on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (25.20 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1).

CBS (9.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T2) then claimed a distant second with its mix of "Live to Dance" (4.75 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12), "Criminal Minds" (12.85 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) and "Blue Bloods" (11.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T6).

Sharing the silver was ABC (6.03 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T2) with repeats of "The Middle" (7.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T6), another "The Middle" (6.59 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4) and "Modern Family" (7.35 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) followed by new episodes of "Cougar Town" (5.08 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4) and "Off the Map" (5.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8).

Next up was NBC (4.88 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) with fresh installments of "Minute to Win It" (5.02 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10), "Chase" (4.14 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11) and a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.47 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.53 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13) and "The Vampire Diaries" (0.94 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) on The CW (1.23 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Chase (20.00%), Criminal Minds (14.30%), Live to Dance (10.00%), Blue Bloods (0.00%), American Idol (-5.20%), Minute to Win It (-12.50%), Off the Map (-14.30%), Cougar Town (-16.00%).

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," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; 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," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.8/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). 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).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research