nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, march 23, 2011)

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

FOX (23.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.7, #1) sailed to another victory on Wednesday with a two-hour "American Idol" (23.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.7, #1).

CBS (9.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then claimed the silver with a new "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) - a series low, a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (8.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7) and a new "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (8.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T5).

Next up was ABC (6.46 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with its mix of "The Middle" (7.26 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8) - a season low, a repeat of "The Middle" (5.81 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9), "Modern Family" (10.80 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2), "Mr. Sunshine" (5.91 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T5) and "Off the Map" (4.49 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10).

NBC (5.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) then was out of the hunt with a new "Minute to Win It" (4.21 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11), a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.99 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) and a new "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.68 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4).

And finally, fresh installments of "America's Next Top Model" (2.15 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13) and "Shedding for the Wedding" (0.97 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (1.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Minute to Win It (33.30%), America's Next Top Model (25.00%), Mr. Sunshine (22.20%), Off the Map (7.10%), Modern Family (4.90% vs. 3/2/11), American Idol (4.10%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (4.00% vs. 2/23/11), Shedding for the Wedding (0.00%), Survivor: Redemption Island (-3.20%), The Middle (-13.00% vs. 3/2/11), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (-15.40%).

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," 3.4/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) 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 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 (3/24/10):

Fresh installments of "Human Target" (6.76 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8) and "American Idol" (21.00 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.1, #1) put FOX (13.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) in front on Wednesday.

Second place then went to CBS (8.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) with a special "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (10.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T3) followed by repeats of "Criminal Minds" (8.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7) and "CSI: NY" (7.59 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10).

Next up was ABC (6.28 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with a repeat of "Modern Family" (5.90 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9) followed by new episodes of "The Middle" (7.20 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6), "Modern Family" (9.05 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2), "Cougar Town" (6.27 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #5) and "Ugly Betty" (4.63 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.20 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up a new "Mercy" (5.43 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T13), a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.75 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12) and a new "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T3).

And finally, a new "America's Next Top Model" (3.04 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T13) lead into the premiere of "Fly Girls" (1.22 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) and a new "High Society" (0.91 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #16) on The CW (2.05 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research