nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, february 9, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (12.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) held onto the top demo honors on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (17.92 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) and "The Finder" (6.52 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8).

CBS (14.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) however was the most-watched network with new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (16.06 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.5, #2), "Rob" (11.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.4, #4), "Person of Interest" (15.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5) and "The Mentalist" (14.36 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6).

Next up was ABC (7.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with original installments of "Winter Wipeout" (5.24 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T12), "Grey's Anatomy" (10.10 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.9, #3) and "Private Practice" (6.63 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.93 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up its mix of "30 Rock" (3.89 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T12), another "30 Rock" (3.81 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), "The Office" (5.16 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7), "Up All Night" (3.70 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10) and a repeat of "The Voice" (3.50 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T12).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.97 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #15) and "The Secret Circle" (1.77 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #16) rounded out the night on The CW (2.37 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" posted a 1.7 rating while "Circle" delivered a 1.0 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
15.38% - 30 Rock
14.29% - The Secret Circle
11.43% - Grey's Anatomy
5.56% - American Idol
3.57% - The Mentalist
1.85% - The Big Bang Theory
0.00% - Rob
0.00% - Person of Interest
0.00% - Private Practice
0.00% - Up All Night
0.00% - The Vampire Diaries
-4.17% - The Finder
-7.41% - The Office
-16.67% - Winter Wipeout

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+41.03% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. The Big Bang Theory)
+25.93% - Rob (vs. Bleep My Dad Says)
+17.86% - Person of Interest (vs. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
+14.29% - The Secret Circle (vs. Nikita)
+6.67% - 30 Rock - 8:30 (vs. Perfect Couples)
0.00% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - The Mentalist
0.00% - The Vampire Diaries
-14.81% - Private Practice
-16.67% - 30 Rock - 8:00 (vs. Community)
-20.83% - American Idol
-30.30% - The Finder (vs. Bones)
-30.56% - The Office
-30.77% - Up All Night (vs. Parks & Recreation)
-31.82% - Winter Wipeout

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," 2.9/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "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" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/10/11):

FOX (15.90 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1) once again rose to the top on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (21.73 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) and "Bones" (10.07 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5).

CBS (13.00 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then took home the silver with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (12.78 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.9, #T2), "Bleep My Dad Says" (10.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T8), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (12.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #7) and "The Mentalist" (14.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6).

Next up was ABC (8.22 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and its lineup of "Wipeout" (6.94 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #12), "Grey's Anatomy" (10.38 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.9, #T2) and "Private Practice" (7.34 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.54 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) offered up new episodes of "Community" (3.85 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #13), "Perfect Couples" (3.06 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #15), "The Office" (6.93 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.6, #4), "Parks & Recreation" (5.10 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.6, #10), "30 Rock" (4.61 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.3, #11) and "Outsourced" (3.66 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.7, #14).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.75 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.2, #16) and "Nikita" (1.88 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.7, #17) on The CW (2.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Perfect Couples (7.10%), Parks & Recreation (4.00%), Private Practice (3.80%), The Mentalist (3.60%), Bones (0.00%), American Idol (-1.40%), The Office (-2.70%), Bleep My Dad Says (-3.60%), 30 Rock (-4.20%), Outsourced (-5.60%), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (-6.70%), Grey's Anatomy (-7.10%), The Big Bang Theory (-9.30%), Community (-10.00%), Wipeout (-12.00%), The Vampire Diaries (-14.30%), Nikita (-22.20%).

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

Nielsen's 56 metered markets (with four markets excluded today), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

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

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.6/4).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research