nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, september 7, 2012)

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

ABC (4.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) snagged the top spot on Friday with its mix of "Stand Up to Cancer" (2.99 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4), a repeat of "20/20" (5.24 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) and another repeat of "20/20" (4.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1).

NBC (2.66 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was the number two draw with its lineup of "Stand Up to Cancer" (2.52 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6), repeat of "Grimm" (1.73 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) and "Dateline NBC" (3.74 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3).

Next up was CBS (3.64 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with its combination of "Stand Up to Cancer" (2.30 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) plus repeats of "CSI: NY" (3.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6) and "Blue Bloods" (4.80 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) offered up its "Stand Up to Cancer" (1.22 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) coverage and a reepat of "Bones" (2.03 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9).

And finally, The CW (1.07 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) closed out the night with a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.55 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4) and a repeat of "Nikita" (0.60 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #13).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - America's Next Top Model
+12.50% - Dateline NBC

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - America's Next Top Model (vs. Nikita (Repeat))
-25.00% - Dateline NBC

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; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4 with an encore.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

· At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 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 (9/9/11):

NBC (5.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) claimed top honors on Friday thanks to another two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.64 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1). Leading off the night was the one-hour series finale of "Friends With Benefits" (2.62 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6).

ABC (3.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then took home the silver with a repeat of "Shark Tank" (4.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) followed by new episodes of "Karaoke Battle USA" (3.14 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6) and "20/20" (3.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3).

Next up was CBS (5.08 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) with encores of "48 Hours Mystery" (4.99 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4), "CSI: NY" (4.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #9) and "Blue Bloods" (5.29 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) offered up repeats of "Kitchen Nightmares" (2.33 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4) and "Fringe" (1.69 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #10).

And finally, rebroadcasts of "Nikita" (1.46 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11) and "Supernatural" (1.15 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11) on The CW (1.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (58.3%), Friends With Benefits (14.3%), Karaoke Battle USA (14.3%), 20/20 (11.1%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release, the San Diego market is currently excluded):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/6; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 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" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research