nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, september 29, 2013)

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 7-8p), CBS and NBC are approximate.]

NBC (15.347 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.6, #1) held off the competition on Sunday with its usual mix of "Football Night in America #1" (6.173 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T10), "Football Night in America #2" (9.286 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.4, #5), "Football Night in America #3" (14.987 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.3, #3) and "Sunday Night Football" (18.466 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.7, #1).

FOX (8.062 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) then was the number two draw with its combination of "NFL Overrun" (17.636 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.3, #2), "The OT" (10.508 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #4) and the season premieres of "The Simpsons" (6.292 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6), "Bob's Burgers" (4.412 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T10), "Family Guy" (5.247 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T7) and "American Dad" (4.277 million viewers, #19; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T10).

Next up was ABC (6.711 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) and its premiere lineup of "Once Upon a Time: Journey to Neverland" (5.066 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T18), "Once Upon a Time" (8.450 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T7) - its lowest-rated premiere ever, "Revenge" (8.037 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9) - likewise its lowest-rated premiere ever - and "Betrayal" (5.289 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T15) - matching ABC's lowest in-season Sunday debut ever.

And finally, CBS (9.453 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) closed out the evening with "NFL Overrun/60 Minutes" (9.365 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T18) followed by "60 Minutes" (11.405 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T15) and the return of "The Amazing Race 23" (8.779 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #13), "The Good Wife" (8.932 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T15) and "The Mentalist" (9.716 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #14) - all of which were their lowest-rated premieres ever.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+36.00% - Football Night in America #2
+16.67% - Football Night in America #1
6.00% - Football Night in America #3
-2.90% - Sunday Night Football

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+21.43% - Football Night in America #2
+10.53% - Football Night in America #1
-14.52% - Football Night in America #3
-16.00% - Bob's Burgers
-16.00% - American Dad
-16.67% - 60 Minutes
-16.67% - The Good Wife
-17.28% - Sunday Night Football
-20.00% - The Amazing Race 23
-21.21% - Family Guy
-23.81% - The Mentalist
-24.32% - The Simpsons
-25.00% - Revenge
-27.78% - Once Upon a Time: Journey to Neverland
-31.58% - Once Upon a Time
-31.82% - Betrayal (vs. 666 Park Avenue)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/30/12):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals for FOX (from 7-8p) and NBC are approximate.]

NBC (16.64 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) held off its premiere competition thanks to its coverage of "Sunday Night Football" (20.56 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1). Opening the night were its pre-game specials "Football Night in America #1" (5.78 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.9, #14), "Football Night in America #2" (7.80 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.8, #8) and "Football Night in America #3" (16.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.2, #3).

FOX (10.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.6, #2) then claimed the silver thanks to a full hour of "NFL Overrun" (20.31 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 7.8, #2) followed by the season premieres of "The Simpsons" (7.97 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.7, #5), "Bob's Burgers" (5.40 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T9), "Family Guy" (6.53 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 3.3, #6) and "American Dad" (5.23 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T9).

Next up was ABC (8.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) and its recap special "Once Upon a Time: Magic Is Coming" (6.00 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T15) alongside the return of "Once Upon a Time" (11.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.8, #4) and "Revenge" (9.50 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.2, #7) as well as the premiere of "666 Park Avenue" (6.97 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.2, #12).

And finally, the season premieres of "60 Minutes" (11.53 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T15), "The Amazing Race 21" (9.70 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T9), "The Good Wife" (9.81 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T15) and "The Mentalist" (10.83 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #13) on CBS (10.47 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Sunday Night Football

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+80.95% - Once Upon a Time (vs. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition)
+23.33% - The Simpsons
+20.00% - Once Upon a Time: Magic Is Coming (vs. America's Funniest Home Videos)
+10.96% - Sunday Night Football
+10.34% - Revenge (vs. Desperate Housewives)
-3.85% - Bob's Burgers (vs. The Cleveland Show)
-5.71% - Family Guy
-7.41% - American Dad
-8.70% - The Mentalist (vs. CSI: Miami)
-12.00% - 666 Park Avenue (vs. Pan Am)
-14.29% - The Good Wife
-16.67% - The Amazing Race 21
-48.57% - 60 Minutes

Source: Nielsen Media Research