nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, september 19, 2012)

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

FOX (9.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with week-to-week gains from "The X Factor" (8.19 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T2) and a second hour of "The X Factor" (10.56 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1).

CBS (9.32 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then claimed the silver with the 90-minute launch of "Survivor: Philippines" (11.22 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T2) and the 90-minute finale to "Big Brother 14" (7.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4).

Next up was NBC (4.88 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "The Voice" (5.42 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.74 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and "Revolution" (4.47 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up its own second run mix of "The Middle" (4.48 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10), "Suburgatory" (3.54 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11), "Modern Family" (4.68 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #6), another "Suburgatory" (3.58 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and "Revenge" (2.79 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #12).

And finally, an original "Oh Sit!" (0.97 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and a repeat of "Supernatural" (0.94 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) The CW (0.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Oh Sit!" delivered a 0.4 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Supernatural" a 0.4 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
25.00% - Big Brother 14
14.81% - The X Factor - 8:00
5.26% - The X Factor - 9:00
0.00% - Oh Sit!

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Oh Sit! (vs. H8R)
-9.62% - Survivor: Philippines (vs. Survivor: South Pacific/Criminal Minds)
-11.11% - The X Factor - 9:00
-24.39% - The X Factor - 8:00
-27.11% - Big Brother 14 (vs. Criminal Minds/CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)

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," 2.4/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

· At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.2/2 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 (9/21/11):

FOX (12.14 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) slipped by ABC (11.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2) on Wednesday thanks to the debut of "The X Factor" (11.72 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 4.1, #T4) and a second installment of "The X Factor" (12.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.5, #3). This marks FOX's first premiere week win on Wednesday nights since 1993 ("Beverly Hills, 90210"/"Melrose Place") among adults 18-49.

The Alphabet then offered up the season premiere of "The Middle" (9.35 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.8, #10), a second "The Middle" (9.92 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.2, #7), the return "Modern Family" (14.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.9, #2), its second "Modern Family" (14.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) and the launch of "Revenge" (10.15 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.4, #6). Both comedies posted series highs while "Revenge" was the network's best launch in the hour since 2007's "Dirty Sexy Money."

Next up was CBS (12.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) with a new "Survivor: South Pacific" (10.36 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8) alongside the season premieres of "Criminal Minds" (14.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.1, #T4) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (12.59 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T8). "Survivor" ties its lowest rated original ever.

Meanwhile, NBC (6.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up week two of "Up All Night" (6.04 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T11) and "Free Agents" (3.86 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #13) plus the return of "Harry's Law" (7.30 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14) - a series low - and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.60 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T11).

And finally, new episodes of "H8R" (1.09 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #16) and "America's Next Top Model" (1.56 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) on The CW (1.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "H8R" posted a 0.6 rating while "Top Model" delivered a 1.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-8.82% - Survivor: South Pacific
-22.22% - America's Next Top Model
-33.33% - H8R
-37.84% - Up All Night
-38.10% - Free Agents

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+112.50% - Revenge (vs. The Whole Truth)
+81.82% - Modern Family - 9:30 (vs. Cougar Town)
+57.69% - The X Factor - 8:00 (vs. Hell's Kitchen)
+40.63% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. Hell's Kitchen)
+28.00% - The Middle - 8:30 (vs. Better With You)
+18.00% - Modern Family - 9:00
+9.52% - Up All Night (vs. Undercovers)
+7.69% - The Middle - 8:00
+6.90% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. The Defenders)
+2.50% - Criminal Minds
-22.50% - Survivor: South Pacific
-30.00% - America's Next Top Model (vs. Hellcats)
-34.29% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (S))
-38.10% - Free Agents (vs. Undercovers)
-60.00% - Harry's Law (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
-69.23% - H8R (vs. America's Next Top Model)

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," 2.9/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

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" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 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