nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, february 22, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (5.920 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) inched out a demo victory on Friday with its mix of "Last Man Standing" (6.012 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #6), "Malibu Country" (5.052 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8), "Shark Tank" (6.436 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) and "20/20" (5.792 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3).

A close second place then went to CBS (9.258 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) with the return of "Undercover Boss" (7.326 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) followed by the season finale of "CSI: NY" (9.393 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #7) and a new "Blue Bloods" (11.056 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3).

Next up was NBC (5.647 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with its duo of "Dateline NBC" (6.222 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) and "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (4.497 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #10).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.805 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up originals from "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.097 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) and "Touch" (2.515 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11).

And finally, a new "Nikita" (1.256 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and a repeat of "Cult" (0.643 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) on The CW (0.949 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Nikita" delivered a 0.3 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Cult" a 0.2 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+7.69% - Dateline NBC
0.00% - Shark Tank
0.00% - Blue Bloods
0.00% - CSI: NY
0.00% - Malibu Country
0.00% - Kitchen Nightmares
0.00% - Touch
-6.67% - 20/20
-7.14% - Last Man Standing
-9.09% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
-21.05% - Undercover Boss
-40.00% - Nikita

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+28.57% - Shark Tank (vs. Primetime: What Would You Do?)
+16.67% - 20/20
+12.00% - Dateline NBC (vs. Who Do You Think You Are?/Grimm)
-7.69% - CSI: NY (vs. A Gifted Man)
-17.65% - Blue Bloods
-21.05% - Undercover Boss
-23.08% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Dateline NBC)
-25.00% - Nikita (vs. Nikita (Repeat))
-26.67% - Kitchen Nightmares
-27.78% - Last Man Standing (vs. Shark Tank)
-38.89% - Malibu Country (vs. Shark Tank)
-41.67% - Touch (vs. Fringe)

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," 2.5/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.2/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.6/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.5/4 in metered-market households and a 0.5/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.8/6 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" (0.4/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/24/12):

CBS (9.62 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) pulled back in front on Friday with new episodes of "Undercover Boss" (8.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1), "A Gifted Man" (9.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7) and "Blue Bloods" (11.17 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3).

ABC (5.08 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) however remained a competitive second place with fresh installments of "Shark Tank" (5.89 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.63 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6) and "20/20" (4.73 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9).

Next up was NBC (4.91 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with originals from "Who Do You Think You Are?" (4.98 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11), "Grimm" (4.75 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) and "Dateline NBC" (5.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) served up new episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.48 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) and "Fringe" (3.09 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10), both of which will resume their original runs on March 23.

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.22 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T12) and "Supernatural" (1.05 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T12) on The CW (1.13 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Shark Tank
+18.18% - Dateline NBC
+15.38% - Kitchen Nightmares
+9.09% - Fringe
+6.25% - Blue Bloods
-6.25% - Grimm (vs. 2/10/12)
-6.67% - Primetime: What Would You Do? (vs. 2/10/12)
-13.33% - A Gifted Man
-16.67% - Who Do You Think You Are? (vs. 2/10/12)
-20.83% - Undercover Boss
-40.00% - 20/20

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+80.00% - Shark Tank (vs. Supernanny)
+58.33% - Undercover Boss (vs. The Defenders)
+7.69% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+7.14% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
+0.00% - Blue Bloods
-6.25% - Kitchen Nightmares
-7.14% - Dateline NBC
-16.67% - Who Do You Think You Are?
-20.00% - Fringe
-20.00% - 20/20
-23.53% - A Gifted Man (vs. CSI: NY)

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," 3.3/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "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" (1.8/5 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" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.1/4 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