nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, january 16, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (17.813 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) was the network to beat with the return of "American Idol" (17.813 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1), which nevertheless fell 16.67% from last year's bow.

ABC (7.470 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then had to settle for second place with originals from "The Middle" (8.201 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T5), "The Neighbors" (6.166 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8), "Modern Family" (11.019 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2), "Suburgatory" (6.351 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) and "Nashville" (6.541 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7).

Next up was CBS (10.668 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with a repeat of "NCIS" (8.375 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9) followed by new episodes of "Criminal Minds" (12.532 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (11.098 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T5).

Meanwhile, The CW (2.599 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) moved up to fourth place with the return of "Arrow" (3.127 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9) and "Supernatural" (2.071 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 0.9 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Supernatural" a 0.8 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

And finally, NBC (2.895 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the evening with its all-repeat lineup of "Whitney" (2.663 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13), "Guys With Kids" (2.355 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.730 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #15) and "Chicago Fire" (3.447 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+10.00% - Nashville
+10.00% - Arrow (vs. 12/12/12)
+4.55% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. 12/12/12)
0.00% - Supernatural (vs. 12/5/12)
-4.17% - The Middle
-5.00% - The Neighbors
-8.51% - Modern Family
-9.68% - Criminal Minds (vs. 12/12/12)
-11.11% - Suburgatory

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+200.00% - Supernatural (vs. Remodeled (Repeat))
+57.14% - Arrow (vs. One Tree Hill)
-11.54% - The Middle
-12.00% - Nashville (vs. Revenge)
-12.50% - Criminal Minds
-14.00% - Modern Family
-16.67% - American Idol
-17.24% - Suburgatory (vs. Happy Endings)
-17.86% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-24.00% - The Neighbors (vs. Suburgatory)

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," 2.5.7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.3/6.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.6/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.5/5 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/18/12):

The return of "American Idol" (21.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) surged FOX (21.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) to the top spot on Wednesday. "Idol" have was down nearly 26% from last year's launch among adults 18-49.

A silver medal then went to ABC (8.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) with new episodes of "The Middle" (8.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6), "Suburgatory" (7.02 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7), "Modern Family" (11.81 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.0, #2), "Happy Endings" (6.22 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4) and "Revenge" (7.58 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7).

Next up was CBS (11.24 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with a repeat of "NCIS" (9.09 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12) followed by the return of "Criminal Minds" (12.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (11.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up its lineup of "Whitney" (4.30 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), "Are You There, Chelsea?" (4.27 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T9), "Harry's Law" (6.41 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.41 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T9).

And finally, week two of "One Tree Hill" (1.52 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) led into a repeat of "Remodeled" (0.61 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) on The CW (1.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Hill" delivered a 1.4 rating while "Remodeled" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+4.17% - Revenge
-1.96% - Modern Family
-5.88% - Criminal Minds (vs. 12/14/11)
-6.45% - Happy Endings
-6.67% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. 12/14/11)
-10.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-13.33% - The Middle
-13.79% - Suburgatory
-21.43% - Harry's Law
-21.74% - Are You There, Chelsea?
-22.22% - One Tree Hill
-23.81% - Whitney

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - One Tree Hill (vs. Nikita (Repeat))
+40.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Blue Bloods)
+19.05% - Revenge (vs. Off the Map)
+16.00% - Happy Endings (vs. Cougar Town)
+14.29% - Criminal Minds
+13.64% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+12.50% - Are You There, Chelsea? (vs. Minute to Win It)
+10.00% - Harry's Law (vs. Chase)
+8.70% - Modern Family
0.00% - Whitney (vs. Minute to Win It)
-3.70% - The Middle
-21.74% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-25.77% - American Idol

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/6; 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," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/6 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 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 with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research