nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, february 9, 2011)

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

FOX (15.99 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1) claimed the top spot on Wednesday with another new "American Idol" (23.67 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.3, #1) followed by the season finale of "Human Target" (8.30 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #7).

ABC (8.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then took home the silver with its mix of "The Middle" (8.84 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T5), "Better With You" (6.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #10), "Modern Family" (13.10 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.0, #2), the launch of "Mr. Sunshine" (10.57 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T3) and "Off the Map" (5.56 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #11).

Next up was CBS (10.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with the "Live to Dance" (4.81 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) finale followed by a new "Criminal Minds" (14.32 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T3) and "Blue Bloods" (12.45 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8), which is back to Friday nights next week.

Meanwhile, NBC (6.74 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up its newly permanent lineup of "Minute to Win It #1" (4.78 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12), "Minute to Win It #2" (7.36 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T5).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.57 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) and "The Vampire Diaries" (0.99 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) on The CW (1.28 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Blue Bloods (43.80%), Criminal Minds (15.60% vs. 1/26/11), Modern Family (8.70% vs. 1/19/11), Off the Map (5.60%), The Middle (-3.70% vs. 1/19/11), American Idol (-6.70%), Human Target (-7.70%), Better With You (-9.10% vs. 1/19/11), Live to Dance (-10.00%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (-10.30%), Minute to Win It #2 (-23.30%), Minute to Win It #1 (-23.50%).

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," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/10/10):

FOX (16.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) cruised to another victory on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "Human Target" (8.92 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7) and "American Idol" (25.02 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.5, #1).

The silver then went to CBS (12.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) with its mix of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (8.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10), "Gary Unmarried" (7.67 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9), "Criminal Minds" (14.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #3) and "CSI: NY" (13.69 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #4).

Next up was ABC (6.99 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with a repeat of "A Charlie Brown Valentine" (7.51 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7) followed by new episodes of "The Middle" (8.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5), "Modern Family" (10.11 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2), "Cougar Town" (6.66 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6) and "Ugly Betty" (4.71 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #13).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up a new "Mercy" (6.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T11) and repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.45 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14) and another "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.98 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T11).

And finally, encores of "Life Unexpected" (1.63 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #15) and "Gossip Girl" (0.66 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) on The CW (1.14 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research