nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, june 29, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (7.09 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) was the network to beat on Friday with its coverage of the "U.S. Olympic Team Trials: Swimming Finals" (5.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) and the "U.S. Olympic Team Trials: Gymnastics Women's Qualifying" (7.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1).

ABC (4.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then claimed the silver with a repeat of "Shark Tank" (4.23 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) followed by a special two-hour "20/20" (4.40 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3).

Next up was CBS (4.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) and its encore mix of "Undercover Boss" (4.74 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5), "CSI: NY" (4.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #6) and "Blue Bloods" (5.20 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up repeats of "House" (1.84 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8) and "Bones" (2.14 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (0.83 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #10) and "Supernatural" (0.66 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11) on The CW (0.74 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-8.33% - 20/20

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+150.00% - U.S. Olympic Team Trials: Swimming Finals (vs. Friday Night Lights)
+109.09% - U.S. Olympic Team Trials: Gymnastics Women's Qualifying (vs. Dateline NBC)
-15.38% - 20/20 (vs. Primetime: What Would You Do? (Repeat)/20/20)

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; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/3; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/2 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

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

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/1/11):

ABC (4.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) kicked off the holiday weekend on top with its unscripted mix of "Shark Tank" (3.95 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.91 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) and "20/20" (4.82 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1).

NBC (3.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then had to settle for second place with new episodes of "Friday Night Lights" (2.51 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #10) and "Dateline NBC" (4.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3).

Next up was CBS (5.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "Flashpoint" (4.54 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8), "CSI: NY" (5.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5) and "Blue Bloods" (6.25 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5).

FOX (2.47 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) then did the same with encores of "Bones" (2.60 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8) and "House" (2.34 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #7).

And finally, The CW (1.42 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) likewise offered up repeats of "Smallville" (1.42 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11) and "Supernatural" (1.42 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 20/20 (30.00%), Dateline NBC (-15.40%), Friday Night Lights (-25.00%).

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," 1.5/4 with an encore telecast delayed by Wimbledon coverage; 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," 0.5/2 with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.0/3 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.6/3 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research