nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, march 18, 2013)

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

ABC (14.914 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) pulled in front on Monday thanks to the return of "Dancing with the Stars" (16.756 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) plus a new "Castle" (11.231 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7).

CBS (8.009 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with originals from "How I Met Your Mother" (7.348 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2), "Rules of Engagement" (6.632 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7), "2 Broke Girls" (8.349 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3), "Mike & Molly" (8.227 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5) and "Hawaii Five-0" (8.749 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #9).

Next up was FOX (7.201 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T3) with new episodes of "Bones" (7.309 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #10) and "The Following" (7.093 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.063 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T3) offered up the season finales of "The Biggest Loser" (7.333 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) and "Deception" (3.521 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11).

And finally, a new "The Carrie Diaries" (1.042 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) and a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (0.507 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) closed out the night on The CW (0.775 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Carrie" delivered a 0.7 rating while "Dixie" posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+36.84% - The Biggest Loser
+25.00% - The Carrie Diaries
+10.00% - Rules of Engagement
+8.33% - Deception
+5.00% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. 2/18/13)
-4.35% - Castle (vs. 2/25/13)
-7.69% - The Following
-9.09% - Bones (vs. 3/4/13)
-11.11% - Mike & Molly (vs. 2/25/13)
-14.71% - How I Met Your Mother (vs. 2/25/13)
-15.63% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. 2/25/13)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+66.67% - The Carrie Diaries (vs. America's Next Top Model (Repeat))
+60.00% - The Following (vs. Alcatraz)
0.00% - Bones (vs. House)
-8.33% - Castle
-11.43% - Dancing with the Stars
-14.71% - How I Met Your Mother
-16.00% - Hawaii Five-0
-25.00% - Mike & Molly
-28.95% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Two and a Half Men)
-35.29% - Rules of Engagement (vs. 2 Broke Girls)
-42.22% - The Biggest Loser (vs. The Voice)
-43.48% - Deception (vs. Smash)

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

* 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," 0.7/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.5/5 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 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) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/19/12):

NBC (10.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) held off the competition on Monday thanks to new episodes of "The Voice" (11.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) and "Smash" (6.67 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #9) - both season lows.

ABC (16.27 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T2) then had to settle for second place despite the return of "Dancing With the Stars" (18.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) - its lowest-rated premiere ever - and a new "Castle" (11.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #8).

Next up was CBS (9.47 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T2) and its original mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (8.15 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T4) - tied as its season low, "2 Broke Girls" (9.19 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T4) - a series low, "Two and a Half Men" (11.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "Mike & Molly" (9.83 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #6) and "Hawaii Five-0" (9.14 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7) - tied as its season low.

Meanwhile, FOX (5.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up new episodes of "House" (5.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #10) and "Alcatraz" (5.07 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #11).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (0.81 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and "Hart of Dixie" (0.69 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) closed out the night on The CW (0.75 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Top Model" delivered a 0.4 rating while "Dixie" posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+10.34% - Mike & Molly (vs. 2/27/12)
+9.09% - Castle (vs. 2/27/12)
+5.56% - Two and a Half Men (vs. 2/27/12)
0.00% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. 2/27/12)
-4.17% - Smash
-5.56% - How I Met Your Mother (vs. 2/27/12)
-6.25% - Alcatraz
-8.11% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. 2/27/12)
-11.76% - The Voice
-13.04% - House (vs. 2/20/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+233.33% - The Voice (vs. Chuck/The Event)
+47.83% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Mad Love)
+46.15% - Two and a Half Men
+43.75% - Smash (vs. Harry's Law)
+17.24% - How I Met Your Mother
+6.67% - Mike & Molly
-13.79% - Hawaii Five-0
-21.05% - Alcatraz (vs. The Chicago Code)
-27.27% - Castle
-31.37% - Dancing With the Stars
-41.18% - House

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," 3.5/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 1.0/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). 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 0.9/3 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters

Source: Nielsen Media Research