nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, september 25, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (17.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) was the top draw in both total viewers and adults 18-49 on Tuesday thanks to the return of "NCIS" (20.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1) and "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) followed by the premiere of "Vegas" (14.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

NBC (7.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then had to settle for second place with week three of its lineup of "The Voice" (11.25 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2), "Go On" (7.27 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T4), "The New Normal" (5.24 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9) and "Parenthood" (4.81 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #13).

Next up was FOX (4.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with the season premiere of "New Girl" (5.33 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T4) alongside the debut of "Ben & Kate" (4.19 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9), a second "New Girl" (5.19 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T4) and the launch of "The Mindy Project" (4.73 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.4, #8).

Meanwhile, ABC (9.89 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up night two of the "Dancing with the Stars" (11.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9) premiere as well as the return of "Private Practice" (6.56 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #12).

And finally, repeats of "Hart of Dixie" (0.65 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T14) and "The Next" (0.61 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T14) on The CW (0.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.3 rating while "The Next" posted a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Parenthood
-9.09% - The New Normal
-11.11% - The Voice
-18.18% - Go On

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+81.82% - The Voice (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
+22.73% - Go On (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
0.00% - Vegas (vs. Unforgettable)
0.00% - Private Practice (vs. Body of Proof)
-2.38% - NCIS
-2.86% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-9.09% - The New Normal (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
-13.04% - Dancing with the Stars (vs. Dancing with the Stars (Repeat)/Dancing with the Stars)
-17.24% - The Mindy Project (vs. Raising Hope)
-18.18% - Parenthood
-25.00% - New Girl - 8:00 (vs. Glee)
-38.64% - New Girl - 9:00
-44.44% - Ben & Kate (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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

· At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) trailed 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 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 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 (9/27/11):

FOX (8.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) was the network to beat once again on Tuesday with week two of "Glee" (8.34 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3), "New Girl" (9.26 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) and "Raising Hope" (6.30 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5).

CBS (15.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) again was the most-watched network with fresh installments of "NCIS" (19.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4) and "Unforgettable" (12.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

Next up was ABC (10.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T3) with an encore of "Dancing With the Stars" (9.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (14.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6) and "Body of Proof" (9.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T3) offered up new episodes of "The Biggest Loser 12" (5.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T8) and "Parenthood" (5.52 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T8).

And finally, week three of "90210" (1.68 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) and "Ringer" (2.01 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) on The CW (1.84 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.7 rating while "Ringer" posted a 1.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+14.29% - 90210
+4.76% - Parenthood
0.00% - NCIS
0.00% - Dancing With the Stars
0.00% - Ringer
-2.78% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-4.35% - The Biggest Loser 12
-5.26% - Glee
-6.38% - New Girl
-6.45% - Raising Hope
-13.79% - Unforgettable
-17.39% - Body of Proof

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+38.10% - Raising Hope (vs. Running Wilde)
+37.50% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+12.50% - Ringer (vs. Life Unexpected)
+10.00% - Parenthood
+5.00% - NCIS
0.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-5.41% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-11.11% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
-13.64% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
-15.38% - The Biggest Loser
-24.32% - Dancing With the Stars
-37.93% - 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," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.5/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

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," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 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" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research