nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, january 23, 2013)

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

FOX (16.004 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) had no trouble taking home top honors on Wednesday with a new two-hour "American Idol" (16.004 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1).

CBS (10.001 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) then was the numbet two draw with a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (6.779 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #9) followed by new episodes of "Criminal Minds" (11.736 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (11.489 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4).

Sharing the silver was ABC (7.147 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) with originals from "The Middle" (8.535 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5), "The Neighbors" (6.324 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7), "Modern Family" (10.807 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "Suburgatory" (6.282 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and "Nashville" (5.466 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8).

Next up was The CW (2.612 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) with new episodes of "Arrow" (3.126 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10) and "Supernatural" (2.100 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #11). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 0.8 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Supernatural" a 0.8 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

And finally, repeats of "Whitney" (2.644 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12), "Guys With Kids" (2.199 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.725 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) and "Chicago Fire" (2.534 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12) on NBC (2.560 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+17.39% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
+8.70% - The Middle
+7.14% - Criminal Minds
0.00% - The Neighbors
0.00% - Arrow
0.00% - Supernatural
-4.17% - Suburgatory
-4.65% - Modern Family
-10.00% - American Idol
-18.18% - Nashville

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+200.00% - Supernatural (vs. Remodeled (Repeat))
+100.00% - Nashville (vs. Revenge (Repeat))
+66.67% - The Middle (vs. The Middle (Repeat))
+64.00% - Modern Family (vs. Modern Family (Repeat))
+57.14% - Arrow (vs. One Tree Hill)
+35.71% - The Neighbors (vs. Suburgatory (Repeat))
+35.29% - Suburgatory (vs. Happy Endings (Repeat))
+4.85% - American Idol (vs. American Idol/Touch)
-16.67% - Criminal Minds
-18.18% - 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," 2.5/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/6 with an encore; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.2/6.

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

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.4/5 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.1/4 in metered-market households with an encore telecast) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 with an encore).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.6/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/25/12):

FOX (15.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.2, #1) cruised to victory on Wednesday with a new "American Idol" (19.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) followed by the series preview of "Touch" (11.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2). Said numbers marked this season's second highest rated drama opening ("Once Upon a Time") not to mention was FOX's highest-rated drama opening in three years ("Lie to Me") and the highest retention for a drama opening after "Idol" ever.

CBS (11.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then claimed the silver with a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (7.91 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T6) followed by new episodes of "Criminal Minds" (13.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (14.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4).

Next up was ABC (4.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "The Middle" (5.26 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #8), "Suburgatory" (4.21 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9), "Modern Family" (6.49 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5), "Happy Endings" (4.02 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T6) and "Revenge" (3.12 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up new episodes of "Whitney" (4.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9) and "Are You There, Chelsea?" (3.90 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9) as well as repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.75 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) and another "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.01 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T9).

And finally, a new "One Tree Hill" (1.47 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) led into an encore of "Remodeled" (0.66 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) 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 1.5 rating while "Remodeled" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+17.86% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
+12.50% - Criminal Minds
0.00% - One Tree Hill
-11.11% - American Idol
-12.50% - Whitney
-22.22% - Are You There, Chelsea?

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - One Tree Hill (vs. Nikita (Repeat))
+65.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Blue Bloods)
+28.57% - Criminal Minds
-12.50% - Whitney (vs. Minute to Win It)
-12.50% - Are You There, Chelsea? (vs. Minute to Win It)
-34.02% - American Idol
-59.79% - Touch (vs. 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," 2.6/7 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: �The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,� 0.9/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 with an encore 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