nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, october 27, 2010)

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

FOX (13.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.3, #1) rode its coverage of the "World Series, Game 1" (13.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2) to victory on Wednesday.

CBS (11.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "Survivor: Nicaragua" (11.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T3), "Criminal Minds" (13.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T3) and "The Defenders" (9.86 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

Next up was ABC (7.94 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with new episodes of "The Middle" (9.43 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6), "Better With You" (7.76 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7), "Modern Family" (13.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1), "Cougar Town" (8.26 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5) and "The Whole Truth" (4.56 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T12).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up a fresh installment of "Undercovers" (5.41 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9) followed by repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.82 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) and "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (4.49 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T12).

And finally, a new "America's Next Top Model" (2.77 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) and "Hellcats" (2.16 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) closed out the night on The CW (2.47 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Better With You (19.00%), Hellcats (11.10%), Modern Family (8.50%), The Middle (7.70%), Cougar Town (6.50%), America's Next Top Model (0.00%), Survivor: Nicaragua (-2.90%), The Defenders (-4.50%), Criminal Minds (-5.60%), Undercovers (-6.70%), The Whole Truth (-14.30%).

In late-night metered market ratings, NBC's "Leno" (3.0/7) took top honors over ABC's "Nightline" (2.7/6) 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" (1.5/5) 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 (10/28/09):

FOX (17.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) overpowered the competition on Wednesday thanks to its coverage of the "World Series, Game 1" (17.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1).

ABC (6.64 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then claimed a distant second place with its mix of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (6.32 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9), "The Middle" (6.63 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6), "Modern Family" (9.23 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2), "Cougar Town" (7.51 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) and "Eastwick" (5.06 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11).

Next up was CBS (8.49 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T3) with its all-repeat lineup of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (6.61 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T13), "Gary Unmarried" (6.44 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #12), "Criminal Minds" (9.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5) and "CSI: NY" (9.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.41 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T3) offered up the special "Monsters vs Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space" (6.93 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6) followed by a repeat of the same "Monsters vs Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space" (5.59 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10) special and new episodes of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.98 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.5, #15).

And finally, a new "America's Next Top Model" (3.50 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T13) lead into a repeat of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.44 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.7, #16) on The CW (2.47 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research