nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, april 22, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (9.92 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T1) was the top draw on Sunday thanks to new episodes of "60 Minutes" (12.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6), "The Amazing Race 20" (9.12 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2), "The Good Wife" (10.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T4) and "NYC 22" (7.52 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9).

Sharing the demo crown was ABC (7.51 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T1) with a repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.93 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9) followed by a new "Once Upon a Time" (8.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) and the Hallmark Hall of Fame original movie "Firelight" (7.63 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #7).

Next up was FOX (3.90 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with encores of the "Married.. With Children" (2.95 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11) and "The Simpsons" (3.18 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #8) premiere followed by its two-hour "FOX's 25th Anniversary Special" (4.31 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T4).

And finally, NBC (6.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) closed out the evening with originals of "Dateline NBC" (4.20 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12), "Harry's Law" (8.53 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (6.21 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+21.43% - 60 Minutes
+7.41% - Once Upon a Time (vs. 4/1/12)
0.00% - The Amazing Race 20
0.00% - The Good Wife
0.00% - Harry's Law
-4.76% - The Celebrity Apprentice
-6.67% - NYC 22
-7.69% - Dateline NBC

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Dateline NBC
+38.46% - The Good Wife (vs. Beyond the Blackboard)
+31.82% - Once Upon a Time (vs. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition)
+28.57% - FOX's 25th Anniversary Special (vs. The Simpsons Movie (Repeat))
+7.69% - NYC 22 (vs Beyond the Blackboard)
+6.25% - 60 Minutes
0.00% - The Amazing Race 20
-25.00% - Harry's Law (vs. America's Next Great Restaurant)
-31.03% - The Celebrity Apprentice
-33.33% - Firelight (vs. Desperate Housewives/Brothers & Sisters)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/24/11):

ABC (7.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1) was the top draw on Easter Sunday with new episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (7.77 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4), "Desperate Housewives" (9.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1) and "Brothers & Sisters" (6.63 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #5). A repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.60 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6) led off the night.

NBC (6.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "Dateline NBC" (4.25 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12), "America's Next Great Restaurnt" (3.59 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (8.08 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1).

Next up was CBS (9.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with new episodes of "60 Minutes" (10.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #7) and "The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business" (9.28 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) followed by the original movie "Beyond the Blackboard" (8.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #9).

And finally, FOX (3.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) closed out the evening with its all-repeat lineup of "The Simpsons" (2.07 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12), another "The Simpsons" (2.53 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11) and "The Simpsons Movie" (3.63 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 60 Minutes (23.10%), The Celebrity Apprentice (16.00%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (15.80%), Brothers & Sisters (11.80%), The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business (8.70%), Desperate Housewives (7.40%), America's Next Great Restaurnt (0.00%), Dateline NBC (-11.10%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research