American Idol was back, and though AFC Divisional playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts on Saturday was the week's most viewed program, the American Idol premiere on January 12 was still the number one program with adults 18-49.
The Big Bang Theory was the week's most-watched scripted content with adults 18-49, and NCIS was the most-watched scripted program for the week across all ages.
Weekly cable show ratings and overnight broadcast show ratings are also available.
Adults 18-49 viewing for the week ending January 17, 2010:
| Rank | Shows | R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere | Net | 18-49 rating | 18-49 Viewers (000) |
| 1 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | P | FOX | 11.8 | 15,534 |
| 2 | AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SA(S) | S | CBS | 11.0 | 14,473 |
| 3 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | P | FOX | 10.1 | 13,324 |
| 4 | AFC DIV-PLF-POST-GAME-SU(S) | S | CBS | 8.7 | 11,451 |
| 5 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 5.7 | 7,508 | |
| 6 | GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS(S) | S | NBC | 5.5 | 7,221 |
| 7 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 5.4 | 7,078 | |
| 8 | Grey'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 4.8 | 6,251 | |
| 9 | HOUSE | FOX | 4.6 | 6,043 | |
| 10 | NCIS | CBS | 4.3 | 5,703 | |
| 11 | PRIVATE PRACTICE | ABC | 4.2 | 5,561 | |
| 12 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 4.0 | 5,250 | |
| 13 | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | CBS | 3.9 | 5,128 | |
| 14 | 24 | P | FOX | 3.9 | 5,084 |
| 15 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 3.8 | 5,044 | |
| 16 | Desperate Housewives | ABC | 3.8 | 4,967 | |
| 17 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 3.7 | 4,863 | |
| 18 | BACHELOR, THE | ABC | 3.6 | 4,798 | |
| 19 | Simpsons SP-1/13 9:30P(S) | SR | FOX | 3.6 | 4,678 |
| 20 | CSI: NY | CBS | 3.5 | 4,647 | |
| 21 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 3.4 | 4,479 | |
| 22 | CSI | CBS | 3.3 | 4,359 | |
| 23 | BONES | FOX | 3.3 | 4,342 | |
| 24 | Modern Family | ABC | 3.3 | 4,319 | |
| 25 | BIGGEST LOSER 9 | NBC | 3.2 | 4,252 |
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Overall viewing (all ages 2+) for the week ending January 17, 2010:
| Rank | Shows | R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere | Net | # Viewers (LIVE+SD) (000) | HH RATING (LIVE+SD) | HH SHARE (LIVE+SD) |
| 1 | AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SA(S) | S | CBS | 30,569 | 17.0 | 29 |
| 2 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | P | FOX | 29,936 | 16.0 | 24 |
| 3 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | P | FOX | 26,393 | 14.7 | 23 |
| 4 | AFC DIV-PLF-POST-GAME-SU(S) | S | CBS | 25,807 | 14.5 | 23 |
| 5 | NCIS | CBS | 20,845 | 12.6 | 19 | |
| 6 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 17,266 | 10.1 | 15 | |
| 7 | GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS(S) | S | NBC | 16,982 | 10.0 | 16 |
| 8 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 15,818 | 9.3 | 14 | |
| 9 | 60 MINUTES | CBS | 15,775 | 9.5 | 14 | |
| 10 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 15,596 | 9.7 | 15 | |
| 11 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 15,375 | 9.6 | 16 | |
| 12 | CSI | CBS | 15,333 | 9.4 | 15 | |
| 13 | CSI: NY | CBS | 14,032 | 8.8 | 15 | |
| 14 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 13,900 | 8.5 | 13 | |
| 15 | GOOD WIFE, THE | CBS | 13,871 | 9.0 | 15 | |
| 16 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 13,701 | 8.7 | 15 | |
| 17 | Grey'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 12,779 | 8.1 | 13 | |
| 18 | HOUSE | FOX | 12,247 | 7.3 | 11 | |
| 19 | 24 | P | FOX | 11,444 | 6.4 | 10 |
| 20 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | ABC | 11,317 | 7.0 | 11 | |
| 21 | PRIVATE PRACTICE | ABC | 10,963 | 7.1 | 12 | |
| 22 | BONES | FOX | 10,746 | 6.5 | 11 | |
| 23 | COLD CASE | CBS | 10,624 | 6.6 | 10 | |
| 24 | BACHELOR, THE | ABC | 10,498 | 6.9 | 11 | |
| 25 | HUMAN TARGET | P | FOX | 10,118 | 5.8 | 9 |
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Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2010 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved. All ratings above Live+SD (live viewing plus same day DVR viewing)
