nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, february 25, 2013)

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

ABC (9.643 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) pulled into the top spot on Monday with new episodes of "The Bachelor" (9.118 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and "Castle" (10.693 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7).

FOX (8.556 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T2) then claimed the silver with originals from "Bones" (8.670 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7) and "The Following" (8.442 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T4).

Sharing second place was CBS (8.208 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T2) with its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (8.599 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1), "Rules of Engagement" (7.796 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6), "2 Broke Girls" (10.194 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2), "Mike & Molly" (9.756 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T4) and a repeat of "Hawaii Five-0" (6.451 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.881 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser" (5.698 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #9) and "Deception" (3.248 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "The Carrie Diaries" (1.103 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) and "90210" (0.576 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #13) on The CW (0.839 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Carrie" delivered a 0.8 rating while "90210" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - 90210
+25.00% - The Carrie Diaries
+9.52% - Bones
+4.55% - Castle
0.00% - How I Met Your Mother
0.00% - The Biggest Loser
0.00% - Deception
-3.33% - The Bachelor
-3.57% - The Following
-5.88% - 2 Broke Girls
-7.14% - Rules of Engagement
-12.90% - Mike & Molly

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+11.54% - The Bachelor
+4.55% - Castle
0.00% - The Carrie Diaries (vs. Gossip Girl)
-5.56% - How I Met Your Mother
-6.90% - Mike & Molly
-11.11% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Two and a Half Men)
-29.73% - Rules of Engagement (vs. 2 Broke Girls)
-40.00% - The Following (vs. NASCAR: Dayton 500)
-40.00% - 90210 (vs. Hart of Dixie)
-48.89% - Bones (vs. NASCAR: Dayton 500)
-50.00% - Deception (vs. Smash)
-61.11% - The Biggest Loser (vs. The Voice)

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," 2.5/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.4/6.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.5/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.9/4.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.4/5 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" (1.2/4 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/1 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 (2/27/12):

FOX (13.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) surged into the top spot on Monday with its primetime coverage of "NASCAR: Dayton 500" (13.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.5, #2).

NBC (12.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with new episodes of "The Voice" (14.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) and "Smash" (6.86 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9).

Next up was CBS (10.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) with its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (9.13 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.6, #T4), "2 Broke Girls" (10.14 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #3), "Two and a Half Men" (11.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #T4), "Mike & Molly" (10.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and "Hawaii Five-0" (9.45 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7).

Meanwhile, ABC (8.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up original installments of "The Bachelor" (7.98 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T7) and "Castle" (9.06 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "Gossip Girl" (1.17 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #11) and "Hart of Dixie" (1.40 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) on The CW (1.28 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+4.76% - Castle
+4.35% - Smash
+3.00% - The Bachelor
0.00% - Gossip Girl
-5.26% - How I Met Your Mother
-6.90% - The Voice
-7.50% - 2 Broke Girls
-10.71% - Hawaii Five-0
-12.20% - Two and a Half Men
-14.71% - Mike & Molly
-16.67% - Hart of Dixie

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+285.71% - The Voice (vs. Chuck/The Cape)
+52.54% - NASCAR: Dayton 500 (vs. House/The Chicago Code)
+37.04% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Mad Love)
+33.33% - Smash (vs. Harry's Law)
+31.58% - Hawaii Five-0
+12.50% - Two and a Half Men
+5.88% - How I Met Your Mother
-14.71% - Mike & Molly
-21.43% - Castle
-24.26% - The Bachelor
-28.57% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210)
-28.57% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl)

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

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," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 with an encore 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