Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (10/17/13):

CBS (10.707 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) was the network to beat for the fifth Thursday in a row with its lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (17.204 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1), "The Millers" (12.174 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3), "The Crazy Ones" (9.530 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5), "Two and a Half Men" (8.518 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7) and "Elementary" (8.409 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #8).

FOX (8.386 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) then claimed a close second place with its coverage of the "ALCS, Game 5" (8.386 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6).

ABC (7.523 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) likewise shared with silver with week two of "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (4.503 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T12) followed by new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (8.581 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) and "Scandal" (9.484 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.415 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) served up originals from "Parks & Recreation" (3.245 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9), "Welcome to the Family" (2.453 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15), "Sean Saves the World" (3.370 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #14), "The Michael J. Fox Show" (3.527 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T12) and "Parenthood" (3.949 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9).

And finally, a new "The Vampire Diaries" (2.843 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9) and the debut of "Reign" (2.001 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #16) on The CW (2.421 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.8 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Reign" a 1.0 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+18.18% - The Vampire Diaries
+12.50% - Welcome to the Family
+10.00% - Sean Saves the World
+8.33% - Parenthood
+8.33% - Parks & Recreation
+6.45% - Scandal
+4.17% - The Crazy Ones
+3.23% - The Millers
0.00% - The Big Bang Theory
0.00% - The Michael J. Fox Show
-7.14% - Grey's Anatomy
-8.70% - Two and a Half Men
-15.79% - Elementary
-29.41% - Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+71.43% - ALCS, Game 5 (vs. NLCS, Game 4)
+65.00% - Scandal
+44.44% - Parenthood (vs. Rock Center With Brian Williams)
+14.29% - Reign (vs. Beauty and the Beast)
+8.33% - The Vampire Diaries
+4.26% - The Big Bang Theory
0.00% - Parks & Recreation (vs. 30 Rock)
-10.71% - The Crazy Ones (vs. Person of Interest)
-20.00% - The Millers (vs. Two and a Half Men)
-21.21% - Grey's Anatomy
-25.00% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Person of Interest)
-25.00% - The Michael J. Fox Show (vs. Parks & Recreation)
-29.41% - Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (vs. Last Resort)
-30.43% - Elementary
-35.71% - Welcome to the Family (vs. Up All Night)
-45.00% - Sean Saves the World (vs. The Office)

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," 1.8/5 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.7/7.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.6/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/6.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.7/6 in metered-market households and a 0.7/5 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.1/4 in metered-market households with an encore) trailed CBS's original "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) 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 with an encore and a 0.3/3 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 (10/18/12):

CBS (13.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) was the top draw on Thursday with its surging comedies "The Big Bang Theory" (15.40 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1) and "Two and a Half Men" (13.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2) followed by new episodes of dramas "Person of Interest" (13.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) and "Elementary" (10.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5).

ABC (7.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then snagged a silver medal with original episodes of "Last Resort" (7.32 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8), "Grey's Anatomy" (9.48 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and "Scandal" (6.42 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T6).

Next up was FOX (5.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) with its coverage of the "NLCS, Game 4" (5.51 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.53 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) offered up its mix of "30 Rock" (3.33 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12), "Up All Night" (3.24 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T10), "The Office" (4.27 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T6), "Parks & Recreation" (3.43 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9) and "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (3.45 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14).

And finally, week two of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.74 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) and "Beauty and the Beast" (2.03 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #15) closed out the night on The CW (2.38 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.9 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Beast" a 1.1 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+17.65% - Two and a Half Men
+16.67% - Up All Night
+11.90% - The Big Bang Theory
+6.25% - Last Resort
-4.76% - Scandal (vs. 10/4/12)
-4.76% - The Office (vs. 10/4/12)
-7.14% - 30 Rock
-9.68% - Person of Interest (vs. 10/4/12)
-10.81% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. 10/4/12)
-11.54% - Elementary (vs. 10/4/12)
-15.79% - Parks & Recreation (vs. 10/4/12)
-18.18% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. 10/4/12)
-25.00% - The Vampire Diaries
-46.15% - Beauty and the Beast

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+45.45% - Parks & Recreation (vs. Whitney (Repeat))
+44.44% - 30 Rock (vs. Community (Repeat))
+41.67% - Last Resort (Vs. Charlie's Angels)
+33.33% - The Office (vs. The Office (Repeat))
+27.27% - Up All Night (vs. Parks & Recreation (Repeat))
+12.50% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Prime Suspect (Repeat))
+8.11% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Rules of Engagement)
+3.70% - Person of Interest
-4.08% - The Big Bang Theory
-5.71% - Grey's Anatomy
-7.69% - The Vampire Diaries
-8.00% - Elementary (vs. The Mentalist)
-16.67% - Scandal (vs. Private Practice)
-22.22% - Beauty and the Beast (vs. The Secret Circle)

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," 2.3/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.3/9 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; 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," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.9/4 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.7/6). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.5/4).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research