nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, february 26, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (15.917 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday with new episodes of "NCIS" (20.479 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.812 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) and the launch of "Golden Boy" (10.460 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #5).

ABC (5.805 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T2) then claimed the silver with the return of "Celebrity Wife Swap" (6.996 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) followed by new episodes of "The Taste" (4.107 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T8) and "Body of Proof" (6.312 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12).

Sharing second place was FOX (3.558 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T2) and its lineup of "Raising Hope" (3.574 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #7), a second "Raising Hope" (3.184 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T8), "New Girl" (4.285 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) and "The Mindy Project" (3.190 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.441 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up its mix of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (4.539 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10), a repeat of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (4.372 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10), "Go On" (3.148 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13), "The New Normal" (2.615 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) and "Smash" (2.986 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15).

And finally, originals from "Hart of Dixie" (1.419 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.6, #16) and "Cult" (0.878 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.3, #17) on The CW (1.148 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 1.0 rating while "Cult" posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Hart of Dixie
+7.41% - NCIS: Los Angeles
+4.55% - New Girl
0.00% - The Mindy Project
0.00% - Raising Hope - 8:00
0.00% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:00
0.00% - Body of Proof
0.00% - Go On
0.00% - The New Normal
0.00% - Smash
0.00% - Cult
-2.86% - NCIS
-6.67% - Raising Hope - 8:30 (vs. 2/5/13)
-12.50% - The Taste

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Hart of Dixie (Repeat))
+33.33% - Celebrity Wife Swap (vs. Last Man Standing/Cougar Town)
0.00% - NCIS
-5.26% - Golden Boy (vs. Unforgettable)
-6.45% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-6.67% - The Taste (vs. The River)
-7.69% - Body of Proof
-25.00% - Cult (vs. Ringer)
-35.00% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:00 (vs. The Biggest Loser 13)
-45.00% - Go On (vs. The Biggest Loser 13)
-50.00% - The New Normal (vs. The Biggest Loser 13)
-52.63% - Smash (vs. Parenthood)
-54.00% - New Girl (vs. American Idol)
-68.00% - The Mindy Project (vs. American Idol)
-70.00% - Raising Hope - 8:00 (vs. American Idol)
-72.00% - Raising Hope - 8:30 (vs. American Idol)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

TBA

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/28/12):

FOX (15.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1) surged to the top spot on Tuesday with a special two-hour Tuesday edition of "American Idol" (15.84 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1).

CBS (14.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "NCIS" (18.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) - a season low, "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) and "Unforgettable" (9.93 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6) - a series low.

Next up was NBC (5.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with a new "The Biggest Loser 13" (5.69 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5) - likewise a season low - followed by the season finale of "Parenthood" (5.13 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its combination of "Last Man Standing" (7.38 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4), "Cougar Town" (4.30 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8), "The River" (4.09 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8) - all of which were series lows - and "Body of Proof" (6.75 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10).

And finally, a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (0.89 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and a new "Ringer" (1.11 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) on The CW (1.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.3 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+11.76% - Parenthood
+6.90% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Unforgettable
-4.55% - Last Man Standing
-7.14% - Body of Proof
-10.53% - NCIS
-11.76% - Cougar Town
-11.76% - The River
-13.04% - The Biggest Loser 13
-20.00% - Ringer

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+75.00% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+25.00% - Cougar Town (vs. No Ordinary Family)
0.00% - Parenthood
-3.13% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-10.53% - NCIS
-13.64% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-16.67% - The Biggest Loser 13
-16.67% - The River (vs. V)
-22.84% - American Idol (vs. American Idol/Raising Hope)
-33.33% - Ringer (vs. Hellcats)
-59.38% - Body of Proof (vs. 20/20 - Charlie Sheen: In His Own Words)

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," 3.0/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "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) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 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