nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, april 18, 2012)

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

FOX (16.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1) was still the network to beat on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (16.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1).

ABC (7.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then claimed a distant second place with a repeat of "The Middle" (4.66 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11) followed by new episodes of "Suburgatory" (5.76 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6) - a series low, "Modern Family" (10.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2) - a season low, "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (6.59 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) and the return of "Revenge" (7.58 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5) - its series low (excluding Thanksgiving episode).

Next up was CBS (7.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with a new "Survivor: One World" (9.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) - tied as a series low, excluding specials - plus repeats of "Criminal Minds" (7.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (6.74 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) continued its struggles with its original mix of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (6.21 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7), "Best Friends Forever" (3.15 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12), "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (2.87 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.72 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9) - a series low.

And finally, a repeat of "America's Next Top Model" (1.14 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) and a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.35 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) over on The CW (1.25 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Top Model" delivered a 0.5 rating at 8:00/7:00c and a 0.9 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - America's Next Top Model
+16.67% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
+6.25% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers
+3.85% - Survivor: One World
0.00% - Best Friends Forever
-2.44% - Modern Family
-4.08% - American Idol
-4.17% - Revenge (vs. 2/29/12)
-4.76% - Suburgatory
-6.25% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-10.34% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+112.50% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers (vs. Minute to Win It)
+35.29% - Revenge (vs. Happy Endings (10:00)/Happy Endings (10:30))
+25.00% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+12.50% - Best Friends Forever (vs. Minute to Win It)
+8.33% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. Cougar Town)
+8.11% - Modern Family
+7.14% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Repeat))
-10.00% - Survivor: One World
-12.50% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Minute to Win It (Repeat))
-14.29% - America's Next Top Model
-17.98% - American Idol (vs. American Idol 10/Breaking In)

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," 2.5/7 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market household with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/3). 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).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/20/11):

FOX (18.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) took last night by wide margins thanks to new episodes of "American Idol" (21.79 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.8, #1) and "Breaking In" (7.55 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4).

ABC (6.10 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T2) and CBS (8.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T2) then split the silver as the latter offered up a new "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) - its lowest-rated regular telecast ever - followed by repeats of "Criminal Minds" (8.76 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (7.19 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9).

The Alphabet then served up its mix of "The Middle" (6.79 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T7) - tied as its season low, "Better With You" (5.25 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10), "Modern Family" (9.83 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) - season low for a regular telecast, "Cougar Town" (6.27 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5), "Happy Endings" (4.65 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T7) and another "Happy Endings" (3.84 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10).

Next up was NBC (3.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) with a new "Minute to Win It" (3.14 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) - its series low - and repeats of "Minute to Win It" (3.00 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.83 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

And finally, repeat of "America's Next Top Model" (1.19 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.6, #16) led into a relocated "America's Next Top Model" (1.58 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) on The CW (1.38 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Better With You (6.70%), Cougar Town (4.30% vs. 4/18/11), Survivor: Redemption Island (3.40%), The Middle (0.00%), Modern Family (-2.60%), American Idol (-4.20%), Breaking In (-10.70%), Minute to Win It (-20.00%), America's Next Top Model (-30.00%), Happy Endings #2 (-30.40%), Happy Endings #1 (-33.30%).

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," 2.6/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

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," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

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). 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 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research