nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, october 11, 2012)

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

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the live Vice Presidential Debate coverage, Fast Nationals for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC are approximate. Additionally, Fast Nationals for The CW are approximate due to local market NFL preemptions.]

CBS (9.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) snagged top honors on Thursday with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (13.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1), "Two and a Half Men" (11.17 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2), "CBS News Special" (8.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5) and "Debate Analysis" (6.08 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T9).

FOX (6.17 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) then took home the silver with a new "The X Factor" (8.25 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) followed by its "FOX News Special" (5.52 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6) and "Debate Analysis" (3.95 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12).

Next up was NBC (5.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) with originals from "30 Rock" (3.82 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12) and "Up All Night" (3.46 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #16) plus "NBC News Special" (7.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) and "Debate Analysis" (5.83 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8).

Meanwhile, ABC (6.91 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up week three of "Last Resort" (6.93 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T9) alongside its "ABC News Special" (7.39 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7) and "Debate Analysis" (5.44 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12).

And finally, the return of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.48 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T9) and the premiere of "Beauty and the Beast" (3.16 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.3, #15) on The CW (3.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 2.5 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Beast" a 1.6 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+7.69% - 30 Rock
-6.45% - The X Factor
-8.11% - Two and a Half Men
-11.11% - Last Resort
-14.29% - Up All Night
-14.29% - The Big Bang Theory

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+62.50% - Beauty and the Beast (vs. The Secret Circle)
+23.08% - Last Resort (vs. Charlie's Angels)
+14.29% - The Vampire Diaries
-4.55% - The Big Bang Theory
-8.11% - Two and a Half Men (vs. The Big Bang Theory (Repeat))
-14.71% - The X Factor
-17.65% - 30 Rock (vs. Community)
-42.86% - Up All Night (vs. Parks & Recreation)

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," 2.5/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.6/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.5/2; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). 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 0.8/3 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 (10/13/11):

FOX (10.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday thanks to special editions of "The X Factor" (9.94 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and a second "The X Factor" (10.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1).

CBS (15.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then claimed the silver with its lineup of "NCIS" (19.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4) and "Unforgettable" (11.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

Next up was ABC (10.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with week two of "Last Man Standing" (10.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) followed by the premiere of "Man Up!" (7.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #8) and fresh installments of "Dancing With the Stars" (13.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "Body of Proof" (9.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.09 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up new episodes of "The Biggest Loser 12" (5.15 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10) and "Parenthood" (4.97 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.44 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and "Ringer" (1.79 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) on The CW (1.62 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.2 rating while "Ringer" posted a 1.1 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+16.67% - 90210
+8.70% - Unforgettable
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Ringer
0.00% - Body of Proof
-2.56% - NCIS
-4.76% - Parenthood
-5.00% - The Biggest Loser 12
-9.09% - Last Man Standing
-18.75% - Dancing With the Stars

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+36.36% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+14.29% - Ringer (vs. Life Unexpected)
+9.09% - Man Up! (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+5.26% - Parenthood
0.00% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
-3.85% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-9.52% - NCIS
-15.38% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-16.13% - Dancing With the Stars
-24.00% - The Biggest Loser 12
-30.00% - 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 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5 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," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households with an encore) tied CBS's first-run "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 with an encore) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research