nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, november 17, 2010)

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

CBS (11.89 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1) moved back into the top spot on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "Survivor: Nicaragua" (12.01 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3), "Criminal Minds" (14.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) and "The Defenders" (9.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9).

Absent the CMAs, ABC (7.28 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) dipped to second place with its mix of "The Middle" (9.19 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5), "Better With You" (7.03 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7), "Modern Family" (12.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1), "Cougar Town" (7.13 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4) and the special "25 Years of Sexy: People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive!" (4.16 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #13).

Next up was FOX (6.24 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with the return of "Human Target" (6.62 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11) followed by a new "Hell's Kitchen" (5.87 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.39 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up a "Dateline NBC" (6.70 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12) special alongside new episodes of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.63 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8) and "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (7.83 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (2.50 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #14) and "Hellcats" (2.06 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) on The CW (2.28 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Criminal Minds (23.30%), Law & Order: Los Angeles (11.80%), Survivor: Nicaragua (9.40%), The Defenders (5.60%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (5.00%), Cougar Town (0.00%), Hellcats (0.00%), Modern Family (-2.10%), The Middle (-3.40%), Better With You (-8.00%), America's Next Top Model (-8.30%), Hell's Kitchen (-10.30%).

In late-night metered market ratings, NBC's "Leno" (3.3/8) took top honors over ABC's "Nightline" (2.9/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (2.7/7). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.5/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.4/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.6/6) and "Daly" (0.9/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/18/09):

CBS (11.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) snagged the adults 18-49 crown on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.45 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10), "Gary Unmarried" (7.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7), "Criminal Minds" (13.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T1) and "CSI: NY" (13.68 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4).

FOX (6.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then had to settle for the silver with new episodes of "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.68 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11) and "Glee" (7.29 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3).

Next up was ABC (7.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with a repeat of "Modern Family" (6.16 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.9, #13) followed by new episodes of "The Middle" (7.10 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8), "Modern Family" (9.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T1), "Cougar Town" (7.90 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4) and another "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts" (6.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8) special.

Meanwhile, NBC (7.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up its mix of "Mercy" (7.79 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #12), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.83 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #15).

And finally, the season finale of "America's Next Top Model" (3.66 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.8, #14) and a special "America's Next Top Model" (1.81 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #16) recap on The CW (2.74 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research