nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, october 10, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (9.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) was still the network to beat on Wednesday with a new "The X Factor" (9.19 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4) followed by a second hour of "The X Factor" (9.52 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3).

ABC (9.38 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then was a competitive second place with its mix of "The Middle" (7.81 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9), "The Neighbors" (6.27 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10), "Modern Family" (12.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.7, #2), a second "Modern Family" (12.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1) plus the premiere of "Nashville" (8.98 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6).

Next up was CBS (10.50 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) with fresh installments of "Survivor: Philippines" (9.58 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T7), "Criminal Minds" (11.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.58 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T7).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.55 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up new episodes of "Animal Practice" (3.88 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.1, #15), "Guys With Kids" (4.20 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.18 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #12) and the debut of "Chicago Fire" (6.44 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10).

And finally, the premiere of "Arrow" (4.02 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14) and a new "Supernatural" (2.59 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #16) closed out the night over on The CW (3.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 1.3 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Supernatural" a 1.0 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - Supernatural
+9.09% - The Middle
+4.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. 9/26/12)
0.00% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. 9/26/12)
-3.23% - Criminal Minds (vs. 9/26/12)
-5.00% - The Neighbors
-5.88% - The X Factor - 8:00
-10.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. 9/26/12)
-10.34% - Survivor: Philippines
-14.55% - Modern Family (vs. 9/26/12)
-22.22% - Guys With Kids
-26.67% - Animal Practice

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+225.00% - Arrow (vs. Ringer (Repeat))
+50.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Harry's Law)
+48.48% - Modern Family - 9:30 (vs. Happy Endings)
+25.00% - Supernatural (Vs. America's Next Top Model)
+20.00% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. ALCS, Game 4)
+7.69% - Guys With Kids (vs. Whitney (Repeat))
+6.67% - The X Factor - 8:00 (vs. ALCS, Game 4)
+3.70% - Nashville (vs. Revenge)
0.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-9.52% - Chicago Fire (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
-14.29% - The Middle
-17.54% - Modern Family - 9:00
-18.75% - Survivor: Philippines
-18.92% - Criminal Minds
-36.67% - The Neighbors (vs. Suburgatory)
-45.00% - Animal Practice (vs. Up All Night)

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 with an encore).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/12/11):

ABC (9.08 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) snagged the top spot on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "The Middle" (8.83 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #7), "Suburgatory" (8.79 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.0, #6), "Modern Family" (13.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1), "Happy Endings" (7.55 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and "Revenge" (7.94 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.7, #8).

CBS (11.33 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then was the most-watched network with fresh installments of "Survivor: South Pacific" (10.55 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4), "Criminal Minds" (12.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #9).

Meanwhile, FOX (9.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) served up its rain delayed coverage of the "ALCS, Game 4" (9.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5).

Next up was NBC (6.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) and its mix of "Up All Night" (5.25 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11), a repeat "Whitney" (3.99 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12), "Harry's Law" (7.64 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.18 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10).

And finally, a repeat of "Ringer" (1.17 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.86 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14) on The CW (1.52 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Ringer" posted a 0.5 rating while "Top Model" delivered a 1.1 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+13.79% - Happy Endings
+8.00% - Revenge
+3.70% - The Middle
+3.23% - Survivor: South Pacific
+1.79% - Modern Family
0.00% - Suburgatory
0.00% - Harry's Law
0.00% - America's Next Top Model
0.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-2.63% - Criminal Minds
-9.09% - Up All Night
-10.34% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Revenge (vs. 20/20: Miracle at the Mine)
+42.86% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+33.33% - Up All Night (vs. Undercovers)
+21.28% - Modern Family
+16.67% - The Middle
+10.53% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Law & Order: Los Angeles)
+5.71% - Criminal Minds
+4.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. The Defenders)
+3.12% - Happy Endings (vs. Cougar Town)
-11.11% - America's Next Top Model (vs. Hellcats)
-13.51% - Survivor: South Pacific
-45.45% - Harry's Law (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

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," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.0/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

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). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

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