nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, february 15, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (6.071 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was still the network to beat on Friday with originals from "Last Man Standing" (6.653 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3), "Malibu Country" (5.679 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7), "Shark Tank" (6.431 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) and "20/20" (5.617 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2).

Second place then went to NBC (6.075 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) with a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.680 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5) and a new "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (4.865 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7).

Next up was CBS (7.499 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with week two of "The Job" (3.371 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10) followed by new episodes of "CSI: NY" (8.504 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #6) and "Blue Bloods" (10.621 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.861 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.196 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7) and "Touch" (2.527 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10).

And finally, the feature "Paper Heart" (0.611 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) on The CW (0.611 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the film delivered a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+15.38% - 20/20
+10.00% - Kitchen Nightmares (vs. 2/1/13)
-5.26% - Shark Tank
-6.67% - Blue Bloods
-12.50% - Last Man Standing
-13.33% - Dateline NBC
-15.38% - Malibu Country
-15.38% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
-22.22% - The Job
-22.22% - Touch
-25.00% - CSI: NY

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+62.50% - Dateline NBC (vs. The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards)
0.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Dateline NBC)
-6.67% - Last Man Standing (vs. Shark Tank)
-10.00% - Shark Tank (vs. 20/20)
-12.50% - Blue Bloods
-15.38% - Kitchen Nightmares
-20.00% - CSI: NY (vs. A Gifted Man)
-25.00% - 20/20
-26.67% - Malibu Country (vs. Shark Tank)
-36.36% - Touch (vs. Fringe)
-70.83% - The Job (vs. Undercover Boss)

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 "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/5.

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

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 in metered-market households and a 0.6/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/17/12):

ABC (7.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) claimed top honors on Friday with a new "Shark Tank" (5.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) followed by its two-hour Whitney Houston "20/20" (7.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) special.

CBS (10.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) however remained the most-watched network with the Friday debut of "Undercover Boss" (10.73 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) followed by the relocated "A Gifted Man" (9.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) and a new "Blue Bloods" (10.63 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3).

Next up was FOX (3.05 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with fresh installments of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.11 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #6) and "Fringe" (2.99 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up its coverage of "The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards" (2.96 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #9) alongside a new "Dateline NBC" (4.37 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7).

And finally, new episodes of "Nikita" (1.60 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) and "Supernatural" (1.68 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #10) on The CW (1.64 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - 20/20
+25.00% - A Gifted Man
20.00% - Nikita
0.00% - Fringe
0.00% - Supernatural
-11.11% - Blue Bloods
-13.33% - Kitchen Nightmares
-16.67% - Shark Tank
-20.00% - Undercover Boss (vs. 1/29/12)
-26.67% - Dateline NBC

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+71.43% - Undercover Boss (vs. The Defenders)
+50.00% - Shark Tank (vs. Supernanny)
+42.86% - 20/20 (vs. Primetime: What Would You Do?/20/20)
0.00% - Blue Bloods
-16.67% - A Gifted Man (vs. CSI: NY)
-23.53% - Kitchen Nightmares
-26.67% - Fringe
-31.25% - Dateline NBC
-36.36% - Supernatural
-40.00% - Nikita (vs. Smallville)
-44.83% - The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards (vs. Who Do You Think You Are?/Dateline NBC)

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," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5 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; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.3/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore .

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research