Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (8/24/14):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals for NBC are approximate.]

NBC (6.547 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday with a new "Dateline NBC" (6.404 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) and coverage of the "NFL Preseason: Bengals at Cardinals" (6.595 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2).

CBS (6.512 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "60 Minutes" (8.373 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5), "Big Brother 16" (7.259 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1), "Unforgettable" (6.379 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and "Reckless" (3.270 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15).

Next up was FOX (2.476 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) and its repeat lineup of "American Dad" (3.822 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3), "The Simpsons" (2.342 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7), "The Simpsons" (2.501 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7), "Bob's Burgers" (1.861 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12), "Family Guy" (2.319 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5) and "Bob's Burgers" (2.012 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7).

And finally, ABC (3.120 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) closed out the evening with a two-hour "Wipeout" (2.983 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13), the season finale of "Rising Star" (3.247 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and a repeat "Castle" (3.270 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14).

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/25/13):

NBC (5.996 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) was the demo champ on Sunday with its coverage of the "Madden NFL 14 Pigskin Pro-Am" (4.245 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4) and "NFL Preseason: Vikings at 49ers" (6.580 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2).

CBS (6.721 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then took home the number two spot with its mix of "60 Minutes" (8.586 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #9), "Big Brother 15" (7.095 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1), "Unforgettable" (6.747 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and "The Mentalist" (4.459 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13).

Next up was FOX (2.975 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) and its lineup of "NFL Overrun/American Dad" (4.109 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3), "The Simpsons" (2.490 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10), another "The Simpsons" (3.147 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4), "Bob's Burgers" (2.371 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10), "Family Guy" (2.809 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and another "Family Guy" (2.927 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4).

And finally, ABC (3.917 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) was out of the hunt with its combination of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (4.995 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10), "Family Dance Off" (3.488 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15), "Secret Millionaire" (4.004 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T13) and "Castle" (3.184 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #16).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+15.00% - Big Brother 15
+9.09% - Unforgettable
-25.00% - Secret Millionaire

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife (Repeat))
+12.50% - Secret Millionaire (vs. Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition (Repeat))
-7.14% - Madden NFL 14 Pigskin Pro-Am
-8.00% - Big Brother 15
-12.50% - Family Dance Off (vs. Once Upon a Time (Repeat))
-27.59% - NFL Preseason: Vikings at 49ers

Source: Nielsen Media Research