Sunday Night Football (Cowboys/Giants) towered over the weekly charts with adults 18-49 and total viewers in the broadcast week ending January 1. Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve was the week's top non-sports program, and a repeat of The Big Bang Theory was again the top unscripted show with adults 18-49. NCIS was the week's top scripted show in total viewing.
Four Univision telecasts made the top 25.
Primetime Broadcast Adults 18-49 Viewers for the week ending January 1, 2012:
| Rank | Shows | R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere | Net | 18-49 rating | 18-49 Viewers (000) |
| 1 | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | 9.8 | 12,487 | |
| 2 | SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK | NBC | 7.4 | 9,468 | |
| 3 | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | NBC | 5.0 | 6,351 | |
| 4 | NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN EVE '12(S) | S | ABC | 4.1 | 5,229 |
| 5 | 60 Minutes - SP 1/1(S) | S | CBS | 2.9 | 3,697 |
| 6 | Big Bang Theory, THE | R | CBS | 2.8 | 3,625 |
| 7 | FUERZA DEL DESTINO MON | UNI | 2.7 | 3,426 | |
| 8 | NEW YR ROCKIN EVE:40ANNIV(S) | S | ABC | 2.5 | 3,165 |
| 9 | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | NBC | 2.4 | 3,094 | |
| 10 | Two and a Half Men 12/26(S) | SR | CBS | 2.4 | 3,039 |
| 11 | Criminal Minds | R | CBS | 2.4 | 3,032 |
| 12 | OT, THE | FOX | 2.3 | 2,980 | |
| 13 | Rules of Engagement | R | CBS | 2.1 | 2,742 |
| 14 | NCIS | R | CBS | 2.1 | 2,738 |
| 15 | MIKE & Molly SP-12/26(S) | SR | CBS | 2.1 | 2,729 |
| 16 | CSI | R | CBS | 2.1 | 2,654 |
| 17 | Modern Family | R | ABC | 1.9 | 2,461 |
| 18 | 2 Broke Girls SP-12/26(S) | SR | CBS | 1.9 | 2,414 |
| 19 | FAMILIA CON SUERTE TUE | UNI | 1.8 | 2,326 | |
| 20 | HOW I MET YR MOTHER 12/26(S) | SR | CBS | 1.8 | 2,308 |
| 21 | FAMILIA CON SUERTE THU | UNI | 1.8 | 2,276 | |
| 22 | FAMILIA CON SUERTE WED | UNI | 1.8 | 2,250 | |
| 23 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES WED-SP(S) | SR | CBS | 1.8 | 2,247 |
| 24 | Family Guy SP-NY DAY(S) | SR | FOX | 1.7 | 2,208 |
| 25 | Mentalist, THE | R | CBS | 1.7 | 2,189 |
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Primetime Broadcast Total Viewership for the week:
| Rank | Shows | R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere | Net | # Viewers (Live+SD) (000) | HH Rating (Live+SD) | HH Share (Live+SD) |
| 1 | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | 27,624 | 15.7 | 25 | |
| 2 | SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK | NBC | 21,234 | 11.8 | 19 | |
| 3 | 60 Minutes - SP 1/1(S) | S | CBS | 14,454 | 8.7 | 14 |
| 4 | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | NBC | 14,438 | 8.1 | 13 | |
| 5 | NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN EVE '12(S) | S | ABC | 12,921 | 6.3 | 13 |
| 6 | NCIS | R | CBS | 12,577 | 7.8 | 13 |
| 7 | Criminal Minds | R | CBS | 10,599 | 6.6 | 11 |
| 8 | Big Bang Theory, THE | R | CBS | 10,164 | 6.1 | 10 |
| 9 | CSI | R | CBS | 9,736 | 6.1 | 11 |
| 10 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES WED-SP(S) | SR | CBS | 9,174 | 5.7 | 10 |
| 11 | Mentalist, THE | R | CBS | 8,901 | 5.6 | 10 |
| 12 | Person Of Interest | R | CBS | 8,511 | 5.2 | 9 |
| 13 | KENNEDY CENTER HONORS(S) | S | CBS | 8,398 | 5.4 | 9 |
| 14 | NEW YR ROCKIN EVE:40ANNIV(S) | S | ABC | 8,361 | 4.3 | 9 |
| 15 | Two and a Half Men 12/26(S) | SR | CBS | 8,149 | 5.0 | 8 |
| 16 | Rules of Engagement | R | CBS | 7,594 | 4.5 | 8 |
| 17 | MIKE & Molly SP-12/26(S) | SR | CBS | 7,378 | 4.5 | 7 |
| 18 | CSI: NY | R | CBS | 7,285 | 4.6 | 8 |
| 19 | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | NBC | 7,254 | 4.2 | 7 | |
| 20 | UNFORGETTABLE - SP 1/1(S) | SR | CBS | 7,117 | 4.6 | 7 |
| 21 | Blue Bloods | R | CBS | 6,765 | 4.3 | 8 |
| 22 | OT, THE | FOX | 6,441 | 3.8 | 6 | |
| 23 | Good Wife, THE - SP 1/1(S) | SR | CBS | 6,256 | 4.3 | 7 |
| 24 | CSI: MIAMI - SP 1/1(S) | SR | CBS | 6,247 | 4.2 | 7 |
| 25 | GIFTED MAN, A | R | CBS | 6,240 | 4.0 | 7 |
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Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2012 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved. All numbers are live viewing plus same day DVR viewing.
