nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, july 29, 2012)

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

NBC (35.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 11.4, #1) crushed the competition on Sunday with its latest primetime coverage of the "2012 Summer Olympics" (35.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 11.4, #1).

FOX (2.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) then was king of the leftovers with its all-repeat lineup of "American Dad" (1.64 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8), "The Cleveland Show" (1.83 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7), "The Simpsons" (2.63 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #6), another "The Simpsons" (2.65 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5), "Family Guy" (3.11 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) and another "Family Guy" (3.17 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4).

Next up was CBS (3.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with its mix of "60 Minutes" (5.73 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8), "Big Brother 14" (5.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "3" (1.76 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T13) and "The Mentalist" (3.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10).

And finally, repeats of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (3.35 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10), "Secret Millionaire" (2.93 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) and "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" (1.62 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T13) on ABC (2.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-5.26% - Big Brother 14
-27.27% - 60 Minutes (vs. 7/1/12)
-37.50% - 3 (vs. 7/26/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-35.71% - Big Brother 14 (vs. Big Brother 13)
-38.46% - 60 Minutes (vs. 60 Minutes (Repeat))
-64.29% - 3 (vs. Same Name)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/31/11):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: President Obama broke into primetime on ABC, CBS and NBC from approximately 8:40-8:50p ET. CBS slid their night from there while ABC and NBC re-joined their programs in progress.]

CBS (6.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) topped the charts on Sunday with its mix of "60 Minutes" (8.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #8), "Big Brother 13" (8.06 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1), "Same Name" (4.41 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7) and "CSI: Miami" (5.15 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9).

FOX (3.14 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then claimed the silver with its all-repeat lineup of "American Dad" (1.98 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T13), "Bob's Burgers" (2.08 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12), "The Simpsons" (3.58 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T4), "The Cleveland Show" (3.32 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T4), "Family Guy" (4.18 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) and another "American Dad" (3.70 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3).

Next up was ABC (5.04 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with repeats of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (4.81 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10) and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (4.50 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10) followed by the special "The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All" (5.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T4).

And finally, "Dateline NBC: Taking the Hill - Inside Congress" (4.28 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #16), an encore of "America's Got Talent" (4.01 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T13) and a new "The Marriage Ref" (2.89 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T13) on NBC (3.80 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Big Brother 13 (16.7%), Same Name (-6.7%), The Marriage Ref (-10.0%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research