nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, february 5, 2013)

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

CBS (16.092 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) as usual was the network to beat on Tuesday with its original lineup of "NCIS" (21.487 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.570 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) and "Vegas" (10.221 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T7).

ABC (6.956 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then claimed the silver with a new "The Taste" (5.282 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6) followed by a special "The Bachelor" (7.793 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3).

Next up was FOX (3.995 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) and its mix of "Raising Hope" (3.976 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T7), another "Raising Hope" (3.599 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9), "New Girl" (4.809 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) and "The Mindy Project" (3.599 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.9, #5).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.969 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) was out of the hunt with its special "Betty White's Second Annual 90th Birthday Special" (5.972 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9) followed by the return of "Smash" (4.844 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11) and a second "Smash" (4.092 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12).

And finally, a new "Hart of Dixie" (1.436 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13) and the series finale of "Emily Owens, MD" (1.493 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (1.465 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 1.1 rating while "Emily" posted a 0.8 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Hart of Dixie
+12.50% - The Taste
+11.76% - The Mindy Project
0.00% - NCIS
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - New Girl
0.00% - Raising Hope - 8:30
0.00% - Emily Owens, MD
-5.88% - Raising Hope - 8:00
-15.79% - Vegas

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+8.33% - The Bachelor (vs. The River/The River)
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-9.76% - NCIS
-13.64% - The Mindy Project (vs. Raising Hope)
-14.29% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 90210)
-20.00% - Emily Owens, MD (vs. Ringer)
-25.00% - The Taste (vs. Last Man Standing/Last Man Standing)
-27.27% - Vegas (vs. Unforgettable)
-28.57% - New Girl
-31.82% - Betty White's Second Annual 90th Birthday Special (vs. The Biggest Loser 13)
-37.50% - Smash - 10:00 (vs. Parenthood)
-45.45% - Smash - 9:00 (vs. The Biggest Loser 13)
-50.00% - Raising Hope - 8:00 (vs. Glee)
-53.13% - Raising Hope - 8:30 (vs. Glee)

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," 2.4/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.2/6.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.6/3; "Late Show," 0.6/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.3/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/7/12):

CBS (16.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) edged out the competition on Tuesday thanks to the 200th episode of "NCIS" (20.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1) and fresh installments of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4) and "Unforgettable" (11.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T9).

Second place then went to FOX (6.76 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) with new episodes of "Glee" (7.72 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3), "New Girl" (6.92 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2) and "Raising Hope" (4.67 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T9).

Next up was ABC (7.63 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with a new "Last Man Standing" (7.75 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7), a second "Last Man Standing" (7.96 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5), the debut of "The River" (8.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5) and a second hour of "The River" (6.82 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.78 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up original installments of "The Biggest Loser 13" (6.35 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T9) and "Parenthood" (4.64 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.36 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and "Ringer" (1.15 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) on The CW (1.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.1 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.7 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+4.76% - The Biggest Loser 13
+4.76% - Raising Hope
0.00% - NCIS (vs. 1/10/12)
0.00% - New Girl
0.00% - Unforgettable (vs. 1/10/12)
0.00% - 90210
-5.88% - Parenthood (vs. 1/17/12)
-8.82% - NCIS: Los Angeles (vs. 1/10/12)
-11.11% - Glee
-11.54% - Last Man Standing (vs. 1/17/12)
-16.67% - Ringer

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+76.92% - The River - 10:00 (vs. Detroit 187)
+66.67% - Last Man Standing - 8:30 (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+53.33% - Last Man Standing - 8:00 (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+38.89% - The River (vs. V)
+25.00% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+15.79% - Raising Hope (vs. Traffic Light)
0.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
0.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
-2.38% - NCIS
-11.43% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-15.79% - Parenthood
-26.67% - The Biggest Loser 13
-28.57% - Ringer (vs. Hellcats)
-28.89% - Glee

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.0/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research