nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, march 21, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals for CBS are approximate.]

FOX (8.772 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T1) was the top draw on Thursday thanks to new episodes of "American Idol" (11.652 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) and "Glee" (5.893 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4).

ABC (7.560 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T1) however split the adults 18-49 crown with its mix of "Wife Swap" (5.004 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6), "Grey's Anatomy" (9.108 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) and "Scandal" (8.570 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3).

Next up was CBS (4.702 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) and its primetime coverage of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: South Dakota State vs. Michigan" (5.757 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #5), "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (4.345 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #7) and "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Akron vs. Virginia Commonwealth" (3.299 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.100 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up its combination of "Community" (3.025 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10), "1600 Penn" (2.541 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T12), a repeat of "The Office" (2.314 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T12), a second "1600 Penn" (2.289 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14) and a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.217 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10).

And finally, originals from "The Vampire Diaries" (2.554 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T8) and "Beauty and the Beast" (1.773 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) on The CW (2.163 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.7 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Beast" a 0.7 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+40.00% - Beauty and the Beast
+11.54% - Grey's Anatomy
+10.00% - Community
+9.09% - The Vampire Diaries
+6.25% - Wife Swap (vs. 3/12/13)
0.00% - Scandal (vs. 2/21/13)
0.00% - Glee
-6.67% - American Idol
-20.00% - 1600 Penn

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+200.00% - Scandal (vs. Private Practice (Repeat))
+141.67% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. Grey's Anatomy (Repeat))
+6.25% - Wife Swap (vs. Missing)
0.00% - Beauty and the Beast (vs. The Secret Circle)
-7.69% - The Vampire Diaries
-16.67% - NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update
-20.83% - NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: South Dakota State vs. Michigan
-30.00% - American Idol
-35.29% - Community
-37.50% - Glee (vs. Touch)
-40.00% - 1600 Penn - 8:30 (vs. 30 Rock)
-42.86% - 1600 Penn - 9:30 (vs. Up All Night)
-50.00% - NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Akron vs. Virginia Commonwealth

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," 1.2/4 with an encore delayed by basketball; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.7/7.

* 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," 0.3/2 with an encore delayed by basketball; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.1/5.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.6/5 in metered-market households and a 0.7/4 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (0.7/3 with an encore delayed by basketball). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2 with an encore delayed by basketball).

* 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 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/22/12):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals for CBS are approximate.]

FOX (13.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) coasted to victory on Thursday thanks to a new "American Idol" (15.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) - which actually was its Thursday low this season - and the time period launch of "Touch" (11.69 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2).

CBS (6.75 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then claimed the silver with its coverage of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Wisconsin vs. Syracuse" (7.52 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T3), "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (5.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #5) and "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Cincinnati vs. Ohio State" (6.28 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T3).

Next up was NBC (3.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with its mix of "Community" (3.89 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6), "30 Rock" (3.27 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8), a second "30 Rock" (3.42 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8), "Up All Night" (3.18 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10) - its series low - and "Awake" (4.65 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T12).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up week two of "Missing" (8.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #7) alongside repeats of "Grey's Anatomy" (4.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T12) and "Private Practice" (3.41 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14).

And finally on The CW (2.23 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5), originals of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.73 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11) and "The Secret Circle" (1.74 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" posted a 2.0 rating while "Circle" delivered a 0.9 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+8.33% - The Vampire Diaries
0.00% - The Secret Circle
-11.11% - American Idol
-17.65% - Up All Night
-17.95% - Touch (vs. 1/25/12)
-20.00% - Missing
-22.73% - Community
-25.00% - 30 Rock - 8:30
-25.00% - Awake

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+160.00% - The Vampire Diaries (vs. The Vampire Diaries (Repeat))
+40.00% - The Secret Circle (vs. Nikita (Repeat))
+28.00% - Touch (vs. Bones (Repeat))
-5.56% - Community
-6.25% - 30 Rock - 8:30 (vs. Perfect Couples)
-27.27% - Missing (vs. Spring Wipeout)
-31.43% - Awake (vs. 30 Rock/Outsourced)
-35.48% - American Idol
-44.00% - Up All Night (vs. Parks & Recreation)
-55.88% - 30 Rock - 9:00

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," 1.1/4 with an encore delayed by basketball; 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," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore delayed by basketball; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (0.7/3 with an encore delayed by basketball). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2 with an encore delayed by basketball).

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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research