TV ratings: 'American Idol' down again, 'Top Model' gets a boost

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, March 21, 2012

FOX's "American Idol" was down again this week for both hours, though it still won the night for the network with most viewers. CBS' "Survivor: One World" also fell again a bit, while The CW's "America's Next Top Model: British Invasion" got a bit of a boost, as did "One Tree Hill."

New series "Bent" only managed to garner 2.6 million viewers for NBC.

FOX averaged 16.55 million viewers with a 10.1 rating/16 share in households for the night. CBS came in second at 11.1 million, 7.0/12. Third place went to ABC with 4.86 million (3.2/5) fourth was NBC with 3.16 million, 2.1/4, and The CW at 1.36 million, 0.9/2.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, FOX won with a 4.9 rating, followed by CBS more distantly (2.8), then ABC (1.5), NBC (1.0) and the CW (0.6).
Ratings hour-by-hour:

8 p.m.:

FOX: "American Idol" (15.5 million viewers, 9.6/16 households)
CBS: "Survivor: One World" (10.2 million, 6.1/10)
ABC: "The Middle" rerun (4.9 million, 3.2/6)/"Suburgatory" rerun (4.4 million, 2.8/5)
NBC: "Whitney" (4.22 million, 2.8/5)/"Are You There Chelsea?" (3.5 million, 2.4/4)
The CW: "One Tree Hill" (1.45 million, 1.0/2)

18-49 leader: "American Idol" (4.5)

9 p.m.:

FOX: "American Idol" (17.6 million, 10.6/17)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (11.9 million, 7.8/12)
ABC: "Modern Family" rerun (5.6 million, 3.5/6)/"Happy Endings" (4.12 million, 2.6/4)
NBC: "Bent" (2.6 million, 1.7/3)
The CW: "America's Next Top Model: British Invasion" (1.3 million, 0.9/1)

18-49 leader: "American Idol" (5.3)

10 p.m.:

CBS: "CSI" (11.22 million, 7.2/12)
ABC: "Missing" rerun (5.03 million, 3.4/6)
NBC: "Rock Center" (2.99 million, 2.1/4)

18-49 leader: "CSI" (2.5)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.