nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, april 8, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (15.893 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.5, #1) claimed the top spot on Monday thanks to its coverage of the "NCAA Basketball Championship" (20.709 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.5, #1). Leading into said telecast was its mix of "2 Broke Girls" (9.108 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5), "The Big Bang Theory" (10.505 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4) and "NCAA Basketball Championship Pre-Game" (13.616 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.4, #3). A year ago, the Eye offered up the "NCAA Basketball Championship" (19.31 million viewers, 7.0 adults 18-49 rating on 4/2/12) to equally potent numbers.

NBC (11.221 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2) then had to settle for second place despite new episodes of "The Voice" (13.673 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.9, #2) and "Revolution" (6.317 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6).

Next up was ABC (11.081 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with a new "Dancing with the Stars" (12.943 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8) followed by a repeat of "Castle" (7.355 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #9).

Meanwhile, FOX (5.244 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up a repeat of "Bones" (4.280 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10) and an original "The Following" (6.207 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7).

And finally, the season finale of "The Carrie Diaries" (1.070 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (0.524 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) on The CW (0.797 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+6.52% - The Voice
0.00% - Revolution
0.00% - The Carrie Diaries
0.00% - The Following
-4.76% - Dancing with the Stars

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+25.64% - The Voice
+10.00% - The Following (vs. House)
+9.52% - Revolution (vs. Smash)
-20.00% - The Carrie Diaries (vs. Gossip Girl)
-31.03% - Dancing with the Stars

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," 2.6/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.8/6 with an encore delayed by basketball; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.1/5.

* 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," 0.7/5 with an encore delayed by basketball; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.4/5 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/5, delayed by basketball). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/4, delayed by basketball).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 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 (4/9/12):

NBC (8.94 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) was the demo king on Monday thanks to new episodes of "The Voice" (10.40 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) - nevertheless a Monday season low - and "Smash" (6.02 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T8) - its season low.

CBS (9.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (7.98 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T3) - tied as its season low, "2 Broke Girls" (8.71 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T3) - tied as its series low, "Two and a Half Men" (10.39 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2) - a new series low, "Mike & Molly" (9.55 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5) and "Hawaii Five-0" (10.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7).

Next up was ABC (12.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with a new "Dancing With the Stars" (16.07 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) followed by an encore of "Scandal" (6.74 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11).

Meanwhile, FOX (6.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up originals of "Bones" (7.38 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T8) - a season low - and "House" (6.06 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #10) - tied as its season low.

And finally on The CW (1.09 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), a new "Gossip Girl" (1.05 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T12) led into the return of "Hart of Dixie" (1.12 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T12). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Gossip" delivered a 0.9 rating while "Dixie" posted a 0.9 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+4.00% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. 3/19/12)
+3.57% - Dancing With the Stars
0.00% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. 3/19/12)
0.00% - How I Met Your Mother (vs. 3/19/12)
0.00% - Mike & Molly (vs. 3/19/12)
0.00% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 2/27/12)
0.00% - Gossip Girl
-4.55% - Smash
-4.88% - The Voice
-7.89% - Two and a Half Men (vs. 3/19/12)
-9.09% - House
-16.00% - Bones

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+178.57% - The Voice (vs. Chuck/Law & Order: LA)
+78.95% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Mad Love)
+66.67% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl (Repeat))
+66.67% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210 (Repeat))
+60.00% - Mike & Molly (vs. Two and a Half Men (Repeat))
+40.00% - Smash (vs. Law & Order: LA)
+40.00% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Mike & Molly (S))
+25.93% - How I Met Your Mother
+11.11% - House (vs. The Chicago Code)
+8.33% - Hawaii Five-0
-32.56% - Dancing With the Stars
-34.38% - Bones (vs. 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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market household) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-4) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research