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

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (2/18/15):

FOX (11.693 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with a new "American Idol" (10.451 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) and another series high from "Empire" (12.936 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1).

ABC (6.527 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then took home the silver with its mix of "The Middle" (7.660 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4), "The Goldbergs" (6.829 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4), "Modern Family" (8.778 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2), "Black-ish" (6.475 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4) and "Nashville" (4.712 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10).

Next up was NBC (6.373 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with fresh installments from "The Mysteries of Laura" (5.751 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T13), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.366 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #8) and "Chicago PD" (7.002 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #7).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.157 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) served up a new "The Mentalist" (9.766 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10), the series finale of "The Mentalist" (10.536 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9) and a new "Stalker" (7.170 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10).

And finally, originals from "Arrow" (2.814 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T13) and "The 100" (1.546 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.6, #15) closed out the evening on The CW (2.180 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the former delivered a 0.6 rating while the latter posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+21.43% - Chicago PD
+14.29% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
+10.00% - Arrow
+8.51% - Empire
+4.76% - The Middle
0.00% - American Idol
0.00% - Black-ish
0.00% - The Mysteries of Laura
0.00% - The 100
-4.35% - The Goldbergs
-7.14% - Stalker
-7.14% - Nashville
-9.09% - Modern Family
-13.33% - The Mentalist

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+266.67% - Arrow (vs. Arrow (Repeat))
+214.29% - The Goldbergs (vs. Suburgatory)
+200.00% - The 100 (vs. The Tomorrow People (Repeat))
+160.00% - Nashville (vs. Nashville (Repeat))
+150.00% - Modern Family (vs. Modern Family (Repeat))
+144.44% - Black-ish (vs. Super Fun Night)
+120.00% - The Middle (vs. The Middle (Repeat))
+96.15% - Empire (vs. American Idol)
+44.44% - The Mentalist - 8:00 (vs. Hawaii Five-0 (Repeat))
+3.85% - American Idol
-35.00% - Stalker (vs. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
-41.67% - The Mentalist - 9:00 (vs. Criminal Minds)
-66.00% - Chicago PD (vs. 2014 Olympic Winter Games)
-68.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. 2014 Olympic Winter Games)
-78.00% - The Mysteries of Laura (vs. 2014 Olympic Winter Games)

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/5.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.3/6; "Late Show," 0.4/2; 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 0.4/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/5 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2).

· 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.

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/19/14):

NBC (20.109 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1) was still the top draw on Wednesday with its presentation of the "2014 Olympic Winter Games" (20.109 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1).

FOX (9.876 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then claimed the silver with anotehr two-hour "American Idol" (9.876 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2).

Next up was CBS (8.381 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with a repeat of "Hawaii Five-0" (5.625 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7) followed by originals from "Criminal Minds" (9.911 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.607 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.940 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) offered up its mix of "The Middle" (4.243 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6), "Suburgatory" (2.955 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #9), "Modern Family" (4.186 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5), the season finale of "Super Fun Night" (2.739 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T7) and "Nashville" (1.758 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #10).

And finally, repeats of "Arrow" (1.006 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) and "The Tomorrow People" (0.769 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) closed out the night on The CW (0.888 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 0.2 rating while "Tomorrow" posted a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. 2/5/14)
-10.71% - 2014 Olympic Winter Games
-14.29% - Criminal Minds (vs. 2/5/14)
-23.53% - American Idol
-30.77% - Super Fun Night

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+233.33% - 2014 Olympic Winter Games (vs. Various)
-11.11% - Criminal Minds
-13.04% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-36.59% - American Idol
-55.00% - Super Fun Night (vs. Suburgatory)

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," 5.2 rating, 15 share from midnight-1 a.m. ET; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/6, and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/4.

·In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "Tonight," 2.2/12 at midnight; "Late Show," 0.6/3, and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2.

·From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.1/3 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, CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research