nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, may 2, 2012)

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

FOX (16.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1) as usual was the network to beat on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (16.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1).

Claiming the silver then was CBS (10.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) with new episodes of "Survivor: One World" (9.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) - its series low (excluding specials), "Criminal Minds" (11.40 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.74 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) - tied as its series low.

Next up was ABC (7.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) and its all-original lineup of "The Middle" (6.61 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T8) - its season low, "Suburgatory" (5.80 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T8) - tied as its series low, "Modern Family" (9.95 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2) - its season low, "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (5.85 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5) and "Revenge" (7.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7) - tied as its series low.

Meanwhile, NBC (5.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up a new "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (5.01 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) - its lowest rating to date, a second "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (4.94 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11) plus "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (4.19 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.45 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10).

And finally, an encore of "The L.A. Complex" (0.86 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.05 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (0.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Complex" posted a 0.4 rating while "Top Model" delivered a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
+12.50% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
+11.11% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
+5.00% - Revenge
0.00% - American Idol
0.00% - Modern Family (vs. 4/18/12)
0.00% - Criminal Minds (vs. 4/11/12)
0.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. 4/11/12)
0.00% - Suburgatory (vs. 4/18/12)
-3.85% - Survivor: One World
-4.76% - The Middle (vs. 4/11/12)
-18.75% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers
-20.00% - America's Next Top Model

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+40.00% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:30 (vs. Minute to Win It)
+35.48% - Revenge (vs. Happy Endings (10:00)/Happy Endings (10:30))
+30.00% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:00 (vs. Minute to Win It)
+25.00% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+9.09% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. Cougar Town)
+5.26% - Modern Family
+4.55% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior)
0.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Minute to Win It (Repeat))
0.00% - The Middle
-6.25% - Criminal Minds
-15.29% - American Idol (vs. American Idol 10/Breaking In)
-16.67% - Survivor: One World
-28.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-55.56% - America's Next Top Model

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.6/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

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 (5/4/11):

FOX (17.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with new episodes of "American Idol" (20.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) and "Breaking In" (7.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5).

Second place then went to CBS (10.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) with its mix of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.66 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4), "Criminal Minds" (12.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (8.75 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7).

Next up was ABC (5.86 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with fresh installments of "The Middle" (7.14 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9), "Better With You" (5.50 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), "Modern Family" (9.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "Cougar Town" (5.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7), "Happy Endings" (4.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10) and another "Happy Endings" (3.32 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.03 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up a new "Minute to Win It" (3.38 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) followed by a repeat of "Minute to Win It" (3.41 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) and a new "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.31 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5).

And finally, an encore of "America's Next Top Model" (1.15 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #16) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.86 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) on The CW (1.50 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Minute to Win It (25.00% vs. 4/20/11), The Middle (11.10% vs. 4/20/11), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (8.70% vs. 4/6/11), Better With You (6.70%), Cougar Town (4.80%), Modern Family (2.70% vs. 4/20/11), Survivor: Redemption Island (0.00%), Breaking In (-3.80%), Criminal Minds (-5.90% vs. 4/13/11), American Idol (-7.20%), America's Next Top Model (-10.00%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (-12.00% vs. 4/13/11), Happy Endings (-19.00%).

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.6/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.6/3).

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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research