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

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (2/26/14):

FOX (10.638 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with a new two-hour "American Idol" (10.638 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2).

CBS (9.686 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then claimed the silver with the debut of "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.944 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3), a second hour of "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.613 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3) and a new "Criminal Minds" (9.502 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5).

Next up was NBC (6.772 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T3) with the return of "Revolution" (4.589 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.702 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7) and "Chicago PD" (8.025 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.941 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T3) served up originals from "The Middle" (7.113 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T8), "Suburgatory" (5.298 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10) and "Modern Family" (8.568 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) followed by the premiere of "Mixology" (5.223 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T8) and a new "Nashville" (4.724 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12).

And finally, originals from "Arrow" (2.456 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) and "The Tomorrow People" (1.507 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) on The CW (1.981 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 0.5 rating while "Tomorrow" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+29.41% - Chicago PD (vs. 2/5/14)
+11.11% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. 2/5/14)
0.00% - American Idol
0.00% - Revolution (vs. 1/29/14)
0.00% - The Tomorrow People (vs. 2/5/14)
-4.17% - Criminal Minds
-7.69% - Nashville (vs. 2/5/14)
-10.00% - Arrow (vs. 2/5/14)
-11.43% - Modern Family (vs. 2/5/14)
-11.76% - Suburgatory (vs. 2/5/14)
-18.18% - The Middle (vs. 2/5/14)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+27.78% - Criminal Minds (vs. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
+25.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
+15.79% - Chicago PD (vs. Chicago Fire)
+13.04% - Revolution (vs. Whitney/Guys With Kids)
-3.85% - Survivor: Cagayan - 8:00
-3.85% - Survivor: Cagayan - 9:00 (vs. Criminal Minds)
-10.00% - Arrow
-11.76% - Suburgatory (vs. The Neighbors)
-14.29% - The Middle
-20.51% - Modern Family
-21.74% - Mixology (vs. Suburgatory)
-25.00% - Nashville
-31.58% - American Idol
-44.44% - The Tomorrow People (vs. Supernatural)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

·In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 4.2/11; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.1/6.

·In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.7/8; "Late Show," 0.5/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

·From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.3/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

·From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (2.1/7 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1,1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.9/6 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

·At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.1/5 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 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 (2/27/13):

FOX (13.148 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) remained the top draw on Wednesday with a new two-hour "American Idol" (13.148 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2).

The silver then went to CBS (9.764 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) with originals from "Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites" (9.430 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T3), "Criminal Minds" (10.589 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.275 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8).

Next up was ABC (6.875 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) and its mix of "The Middle" (7.961 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6), "The Neighbors" (6.122 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9), "Modern Family" (10.594 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1), "Suburgatory" (6.302 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5) and "Nashville" (5.135 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.157 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up a new "Whitney" (3.547 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12), the season finale of "Guys With Kids" (3.148 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) and fresh installments of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.581 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10) and "Chicago Fire" (6.542 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7).

And finally, new episodes of "Arrow" (3.257 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) and "Supernatural" (2.239 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) on The CW (2.748 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 0.8 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Supernatural" a 0.6 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+15.00% - Suburgatory
+11.11% - Arrow
+9.09% - Whitney
+4.00% - Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites
0.00% - Modern Family
0.00% - Guys With Kids
0.00% - Chicago Fire
0.00% - Supernatural
-3.70% - Criminal Minds
-4.55% - The Middle
-5.88% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-7.32% - American Idol
-10.53% - The Neighbors
-11.11% - Nashville (vs. 2/13/13)
-21.74% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+128.57% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Rock Center With Brian Williams)
+50.00% - Supernatural (vs. America's Next Top Model)
+42.86% - Arrow (vs. One Tree Hill)
+18.75% - Chicago Fire (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
-10.34% - Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites
-15.38% - Guys With Kids (vs. Are You There, Chelsea?)
-16.13% - Criminal Minds
-17.86% - Suburgatory (vs. Happy Endings)
-18.75% - Modern Family
-19.23% - The Middle
-20.00% - Whitney
-22.45% - American Idol
-29.17% - The Neighbors (vs. Suburgatory)
-30.77% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-33.33% - Nashville (vs. Revenge)

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," 2.5/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/5.

* 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," 0.7/4.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 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" (1.3/5 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) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research