nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, march 5, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (13.73 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1) was the network to beat on Monday with new episodes of "The Voice" (16.66 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.1, #1) and "Smash" (7.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2).

ABC (7.64 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then took home a distant silver with a new "The Bachelor" (8.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) and a repeat of "Castle" (6.66 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

Next up was CBS (6.87 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T3) and its all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (6.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6), "2 Broke Girls" (7.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4), "Two and a Half Men" (7.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4), "Mike & Molly" (6.98 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T8) and "Hawaii Five-0" (6.55 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10).

Meanwhile, FOX (5.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T3) served up a special 8:00/7:00c episode of "Alcatraz" (5.86 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7) followed by a new "Alcatraz" (5.46 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T8) in its regular time period.

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (1.35 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) and "Hart of Dixie" (1.07 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) on The CW (1.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Top Model" delivered a 0.6 rating while "Dixie" posted a 0.5 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+12.96% - The Voice
+12.50% - Smash
0.00% - Alcatraz - 9:00
-2.91% - The Bachelor

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+335.71% - The Voice (vs. The Event)
+50.00% - Smash (vs. Harry's Law)
-14.29% - Alcatraz - 9:00 (vs. The Chicago Code)
-19.35% - The Bachelor (vs. The Bachelor)
-50.00% - Alcatraz - 8:00 (vs. House)

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," 2.9/8 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/7/11):

FOX (9.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) claimed the top spot on Monday with new episodes of "House" (11.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) and "The Chicago Code" (7.51 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6).

ABC (8.52 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then took home the silver with a new "The Bachelor" (9.94 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) followed by a repeat of "Castle" (5.67 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T10).

Next up was CBS (8.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (6.42 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7), "Mad Love" (7.27 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5), "Two and a Half Men" (10.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3), "Mike & Molly" (9.29 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (7.58 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) saw the return of "The Event" (5.23 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T10) - a series low - followed by a new "Harry's Law" (9.40 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.71 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T12) and "Gossip Girl" (0.49 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T12) on The CW (0.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): House (0.00%), The Chicago Code (0.00%), Harry's Law (0.00%), The Bachelor (-8.80%), Mad Love (-11.10%), The Event (-26.30% vs. 11/29/10).

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," 2.7/7 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research