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

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/18/13):

ABC (7.242 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) was the top draw on a modest Wednesday thanks to repeats of "The Middle" (5.922 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4), "The Goldbergs" (4.849 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6), "Modern Family" (6.170 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) and the annual special "Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013" (8.838 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1).

NBC (5.293 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then took home the silver with a new "The Sing-Off" (5.445 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) followed by "Michael Buble's 3rd Annual Christmas Special" (4.989 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6).

Next up was FOX (5.025 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with a new "The X Factor" (4.865 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) alongside the penultimate "The X Factor" (5.186 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4).

Meanwhile, CBS (5.962 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) served up its annual "A Home for the Holidays" (4.889 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T11) special followed by repeats of "Criminal Minds" (6.410 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (6.588 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10).

And finally, The CW (1.381 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) served up its presentation of "The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2013" (1.381 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T11). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the special delivered a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - The X Factor - 9:00
-7.14% - The X Factor - 8:00
-11.11% - The Sing-Off

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2013 (vs. Noel (Repeat))
+31.25% - Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013 (vs. 20/20: The Year With Katie Couric)
-11.11% - The Sing-Off (vs. Miss Universe Pageant)
-31.58% - Michael Buble's 3rd Annual Christmas Special (vs. Chicago Fire)
-33.33% - A Home for the Holidays
-50.00% - The X Factor - 9:00
-51.85% - The X Factor - 8:00

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," 2.9/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.4/6.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/5; "Late Show," 0.5/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.5/5 in metered-market households and a 0.5/3 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 with an encore telecast) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/19/12):

FOX (8.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with the penultimate installments of "The X Factor" (8.24 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) and a second "The X Factor" (8.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1).

NBC (6.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) then claimed the silver with its telecast of the "Miss Universe Pageant" (6.12 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T4) plus a new "Chicago Fire" (6.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3).

Next up was ABC (5.24 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with repeats of "The Middle" (5.39 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7), "The Neighbors" (4.11 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9) and "Modern Family" (5.75 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T4) followed by the 90-minute special "20/20: The Year With Katie Couric" (5.40 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #6).

Meanwhile, CBS (5.76 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up "A Home for the Holidays with Rascal Flatts" (5.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #11) alongside repeats of "Criminal Minds" (6.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T7) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (5.84 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9).

And finally, the feature "Noel" (5.76 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (1.62 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the film delivered a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+35.71% - Chicago Fire
+3.85% - The X Factor
+3.70% - The X Factor

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+90.00% - Chicago Fire (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Repeat))
+49.53% - 20/20: The Year With Katie Couric (vs. Happy Endings (Repeat)/Revenge (Repeat))
+33.33% - Miss Universe Pageant (vs. Who's Still Standing?/A Michael Buble Christmas (Repeat))
+12.50% - A Home for the Holidays with Rascal Flatts
+3.70% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. The X Factor/I Hate My Teenage Daughter)
-18.18% - The X Factor - 8:00

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," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4 with an encore.

* 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," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 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