nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, august 17, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (4.90 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) topped the demo chart on Friday with its coverage of "NFL Preseason: Detroit at Baltimore" (4.90 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

ABC (5.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) however was the most-watched network with repeats of "Shark Tank" (4.54 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5), "20/20" (5.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T2) and another "20/20" (5.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T2).

Next up was NBC (3.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with rebroadcasts of "America's Got Talent" (3.84 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6) and "Grimm" (2.55 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8) followed by the return of "Dateline NBC" (5.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4).

Meanwhile, CBS (4.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up its new special "Teachers Rock" (3.32 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #10) alongside repeats of "CSI: NY" (4.28 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8) and "Blue Bloods" (4.89 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #7).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.25 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11) and another "Nikita" (1.08 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11) on The CW (1.16 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+13.04% - Dateline NBC (vs. 7/20/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-18.75% - Dateline NBC
-57.14% - Teachers Rock (vs. Flashpoint)

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," 2.0/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4 with an encore.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.8/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

· At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/3 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/2 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 with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/19/11):

NBC (5.09 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) and FOX (4.04 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) split top honors on Friday as the latter offered up its coverage of "NFL Preseason: Falcons/Jaguars" (4.04 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2).

The Peacock then offered up new episodes of "Friends With Benefits" (3.09 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8) and "Dateline NBC" (6.09 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

CBS (6.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) however was the most-watched network thanks to the season finale of "Flashpoint" (6.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) followed by repeats of "CSI: NY" (6.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) and "Blue Bloods" (5.75 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8).

Next up was ABC (4.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with its mix of "Shark Tank" (4.85 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5), "Karaoke Battle USA" (3.82 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) and "20/20" (4.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.03 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10) and "Supernatural" (0.95 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10) on The CW (0.99 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Friends With Benefits (50.0%), Dateline NBC (33.3%), Karaoke Battle USA (10.0%), 20/20 (7.7% vs. 8/5/11), Flashpoint (-6.7%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

Not available at press time.

Source: Nielsen Media Research