nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, october 9, 2012)

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

NBC (7.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) pulled into the top spot on Tuesday with its mix of "The Voice" (11.93 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1), "Go On" (6.95 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4), "The New Normal" (4.96 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7) and "Parenthood" (4.99 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7).

CBS (14.99 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then had to settle for second place with originals from "NCIS" (18.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.10 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and "Vegas" (11.78 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7).

Next up was FOX (4.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) and its combination of "Raising Hope" (4.11 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11), "Ben & Kate" (3.33 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.5, #13), "New Girl" (4.99 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5) and "The Mindy Project" (3.57 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10).

Meanwhile, ABC (9.16 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up its mix of "Dancing with the Stars: Judges' Analysis - Where They Stand" (8.24 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14), "Dancing with the Stars" (13.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6) and "Private Practice" (6.05 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12).

And finally, a new "Hart of Dixie" (1.16 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) and the special "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" (0.57 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.2, #1) on The CW (0.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.7 rating while "Horrible" posted a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+51.72% - The Voice
+27.27% - Go On
+17.65% - Parenthood
+17.65% - The New Normal
+5.88% - Raising Hope
0.00% - Dancing with the Stars
0.00% - The Mindy Project
0.00% - Private Practice
-3.57% - New Girl
-4.76% - Vegas
-6.25% - Ben & Kate
-6.45% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-8.33% - NCIS
-42.86% - Hart of Dixie

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+120.00% - The Voice (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
+40.00% - Go On (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
+12.50% - New Girl (vs. ALCS, Game 3)
0.00% - The New Normal (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
-4.76% - Parenthood
-12.12% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-13.04% - Vegas (vs. Unforgettable)
-15.38% - NCIS
-15.79% - Private Practice (vs. Body of Proof)
-20.83% - The Mindy Project (vs. ALCS, Game 3)
-25.00% - Raising Hope (vs. ALCS, Game 3)
-33.33% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 90210)
-34.38% - Dancing with the Stars
-37.50% - Ben & Kate (vs. ALCS, Game 3)
-75.00% - Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (vs. Ringer)

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," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

* 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" (0.5/3 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/11/11):

CBS (15.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) proved to be the network to beat on Tuesday with new episodes of "NCIS" (18.66 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.39 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T3) and "Unforgettable" (11.78 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7).

ABC (12.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then claimed the silver with the premiere of "Last Man Standing" (12.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T3), a second episode of "Last Man Standing" (13.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) and new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (16.60 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5) and "Body of Proof" (9.38 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10).

Next up was FOX (7.98 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with its primetime coverage of "ALCS, Game 3" (7.98 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.39 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) was still out of the hunt with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser 12" (5.46 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9) and "Parenthood" (5.26 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

And finally, fresh installments of "90210" (1.50 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) and "Ringer" (1.72 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11) rounded out the evening on The CW (1.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Ringer
+14.29% - Dancing With the Stars
+5.00% - Parenthood
0.00% - The Biggest Loser 12
0.00% - 90210
-2.94% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-4.17% - Unforgettable
-4.88% - NCIS
-9.52% - Body of Proof

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+60.87% - Last Man Standing - 8:30 (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+43.48% - Last Man Standing - 8:00 (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+5.56% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
5.00% - Parenthood
0.00% - NCIS
0.00% - Ringer (vs. Life Unexpected)
-5.71% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-5.88% - Dancing With the Stars
-11.54% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-23.08% - The Biggest Loser 12
-40.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)

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," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.5/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/6.

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," 0.6/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research