nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, november 1, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (13.57 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) topped the charts on Thursday with its presentation of "The 46th Annual CMA Awards" (13.57 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2).

CBS (12.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (15.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1), "Two and a Half Men" (12.61 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3), "Person of Interest" (13.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4) and "Elementary" (10.50 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5).

Next up was FOX (6.17 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with a new "The X Factor" (6.01 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7) alongside a second "The X Factor" (6.33 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.12 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) was out of the hunt with a rebroadcast of "The Voice" (3.79 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9) plus a new "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (4.78 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9).

And finally, originals from "The Vampire Diaries" (3.17 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #8) and "Beauty and the Beast" (1.73 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) on The CW (2.45 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 2.3 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Beast" a 0.9 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - The Vampire Diaries
+9.09% - Elementary
+6.25% - The Big Bang Theory
0.00% - Person of Interest
0.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
-2.70% - Two and a Half Men
-14.29% - Beauty and the Beast
-24.14% - The X Factor - 8:00 (vs. 10/11/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+58.33% - The 46th Annual CMA Awards (vs. Charlie's Angels/Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice)
+11.11% - Person of Interest
+8.33% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Prime Suspect)
0.00% - The Vampire Diaries
0.00% - The Big Bang Theory
-2.70% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Rules of Engagement)
-17.24% - Elementary (vs. The Mentalist)
-27.27% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. Bones)
-33.33% - Beauty and the Beast (vs. The Secret Circle)
-38.89% - The X Factor - 8:00

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; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.6/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/6.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/4; "Nightline," 1.4/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

* 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" (0.6/4 in 18-49) beat "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 with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/3/11):

FOX (10.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday thanks to a new "The X Factor" (11.28 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and the return of "Bones" (10.02 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5). Said numbers marked the veteran drama's best in the demo since Season 4 (9/3/08).

CBS (12.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) then was a competitive second place with new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (15.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1), "Rules of Engagement" (11.90 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2), "Person of Interest" (11.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #8) and "The Mentalist" (13.46 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #7).

Next up was ABC (7.13 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with fresh installments of "Charlie's Angels" (5.38 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T14), "Grey's Anatomy" (9.26 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4) and "Private Practice" (6.76 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.6, #9).

NBC (4.52 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) then offered up its mix of "Community" (3.87 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.7, #12), "Parks & Recreation" (3.94 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11), "The Office" (6.05 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.1, #6), "Whitney" (4.33 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10) and "Prime Suspect" (4.47 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T14).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.34 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #13) and "The Secret Circle" (2.27 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.9, #16) on The CW (2.80 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5) rounded out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" posted a 2.0 rating while "Circle" delivered a 1.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+21.43% - Community
+16.00% - The Mentalist
+13.33% - The Big Bang Theory
+11.11% - Parks & Recreation
+10.71% - The Office
+8.82% - Rules of Engagement
+8.33% - Private Practice
+7.14% - The Vampire Diaries
+5.88% - The X Factor (vs. 10/13/11)
+3.85% - Person of Interest
0.00% - Whitney
0.00% - Charlie's Angels (vs. 10/20/11)
0.00% - Prime Suspect
-5.41% - Grey's Anatomy
-10.00% - The Secret Circle

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+83.33% - Bones (vs. Fringe)
+44.00% - The X Factor (vs. Bones)
+10.87% - The Big Bang Theory
+8.82% - Rules of Engagement (vs. Bleep My Dad Says)
0.00% - The Mentalist
0.00% - Charlie's Angels (vs. Grey's Anatomy (Repeat))
0.00% - The Secret Circle (vs. Nikita)
-6.25% - The Vampire Diaries
-10.53% - Community
-14.29% - Prime Suspect (vs. The Apprentice)
-16.22% - The Office
-16.67% - Parks & Recreation (vs. 30 Rock)
-18.18% - Person of Interest (vs. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
-18.60% - Grey's Anatomy
-22.22% - Whitney (vs. Outsourced)
-33.33% - Private Practice

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; 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," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

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

Source: Nielsen Media Research