nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, october 7, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 19 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals for FOX (from 7-7:30p), CBS and NBC are approximate.]

NBC (14.72 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday with its mix of "Football Night in America #1" (6.47 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 2.1, #14), "Football Night in America #2" (10.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #4), "Football Night in America #3" (13.82 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.4, #3) and of course "Sunday Night Football" (15.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.2, #2).

CBS (12.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then took home the silver with a half hour of "NFL Overrun" (23.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.8, #1) followed by originals from "60 Minutes" (16.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #5), "The Amazing Race 21" (9.77 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #11), "The Good Wife" (8.95 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T16) and "The Mentalist" (8.70 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #18).

Next up was FOX (5.39 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with a repeat of "The Simpsons" (4.64 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 2.0, #15) followed by the return of "The Cleveland Show" (4.43 million viewers, #19; adults 18-49: 2.2, #13) plus originals from "The Simpsons" (6.52 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 3.1, #8), "Bob's Burgers" (4.84 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 2.3, #12), "Family Guy" (6.74 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.4, #6) and "American Dad" (5.18 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9).

And finally, ABC (7.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) rounded out the night with the season premiere of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.48 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #19) alongside new episodes of "Once Upon a Time" (9.62 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.3, #7), "Revenge" (8.27 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9) and "666 Park Avenue" (5.08 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T16).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+111.11% - 60 Minutes
+4.00% - American Dad
+3.03% - Family Guy
0.00% - The Amazing Race 21
-5.56% - The Good Wife
-8.00% - Bob's Burgers
-13.16% - Once Upon a Time
-16.22% - The Simpsons
-18.75% - Revenge
-22.73% - 666 Park Avenue
-23.46% - Sunday Night Football
-23.81% - The Mentalist

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+210.00% - The Simpsons (vs. The X Factor (Repeat))
+161.54% - Family Guy (vs. The X Factor (Repeat))
+130.00% - Bob's Burgers (vs. The X Factor (Repeat))
+120.00% - The Cleveland Show (vs. The Cleveland Show (Repeat))
+100.00% - American Dad (vs. The X Factor (Repeat))
+65.00% - Once Upon a Time (vs. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition)
+7.14% - America's Funniest Home Videos
+5.56% - 60 Minutes
-3.70% - Revenge (vs. Desperate Housewives)
-7.41% - The Amazing Race 21
-10.53% - 666 Park Avenue (vs. Pan Am)
-20.00% - The Mentalist (vs. CSI: Miami)
-21.52% - Sunday Night Football
-22.73% - The Good Wife

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/9/11):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: ALCS Gm 2 was postponed due to rain and will be played today at 4PM ET. Cleveland was joined in progress at 7:12P in 17% of the country. Due to live sports, Fast Nationals for CBS and NBC are approximate on the night. CBS' 60 Minutes began at 7:36P with prime sliding.]

NBC (16.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1) overshadowed the competition with its coverage of "Sunday Night Football" (19.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 7.9, #1). Leading off the night then were pre-game specials "Football Night in America #1" (6.60 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.3, #8), "Football Night in America #2" (10.41 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #4) and "Football Night in America #3" (15.42 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.0, #3).

A distant silver then went to CBS (12.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (20.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.9, #2), "60 Minutes" (13.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #5), "The Amazing Race" (9.61 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T6), "The Good Wife" (9.88 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #9) and "CSI: Miami" (9.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T10).

Next up was ABC (7.21 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) and its lineup of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.63 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (7.33 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T10), "Desperate Housewives" (8.46 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T6) and "Pan Am" (6.42 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #12).

And finally, FOX (2.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) switched to repeats of "The Cleveland Show" (1.48 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.6, #17), another "The Cleveland Show" (2.21 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T15), "The X Factor" (2.83 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T15) and another "The X Factor" (3.29 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+8.22% - Sunday Night Football
+4.76% - The Good Wife
+2.86% - 60 Minutes
-4.76% - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
-6.67% - America's Funniest Home Videos
-6.90% - Desperate Housewives
-10.00% - The Amazing Race
-13.04% - CSI: Miami
-24.00% - Pan Am

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+38.60% - Sunday Night Football
-5.26% - 60 Minutes
-6.67% - America's Funniest Home Videos
-13.04% - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
-28.95% - The Amazing Race
-28.95% - Desperate Housewives
-32.14% - Pan Am (vs. Brothers & Sisters)
-37.14% - The Good Wife (vs. Undercover Boss)

Source: Nielsen Media Research