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 (2/19/15):

CBS (12.206 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T1) was the most-watched network on Thursday thanks to a new "The Big Bang Theory" (17.168 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1), the premiere of "The Odd Couple" (13.569 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4), part one of the "Two and a Half Men" (13.026 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4) finale, part two of the "Two and a Half Men" (13.368 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2) finale and "Elementary" (8.052 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10).

ABC (8.813 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T1) however shared in the demo honors with its trio of "Grey's Anatomy" (8.074 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7), "Scandal" (9.527 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2) and "How to Get Away with Murder" (8.838 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6).

Next up was FOX (6.191 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) and fresh installments of "American Idol" (8.873 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8) and "Backstrom" (3.510 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.936 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) served up week two of "The Slap" (3.933 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) followed by new episodes of "The Blacklist" (7.490 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9) and "Allegiance" (3.384 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.409 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) and "Reign" (1.031 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) closed out the evening on The CW (1.220 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.0 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Reign" a 0.5 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+47.62% - Two and a Half Men
+28.57% - Allegiance
+8.70% - Grey's Anatomy
+7.14% - Elementary
+3.70% - How to Get Away with Murder
+3.23% - Scandal
0.00% - The Blacklist
0.00% - The Vampire Diaries
0.00% - Reign
-2.22% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. 2/5/15)
-8.70% - American Idol
-27.27% - The Slap
-30.77% - Backstrom

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+300.00% - How to Get Away with Murder (vs. Scandal (Repeat))
+255.56% - Scandal (vs. The Taste)
+250.00% - The Vampire Diaries (vs. The Originals (Repeat))
+177.78% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. The Taste)
+146.15% - Two and a Half Men - 9:30 (vs. The Millers (Repeat))
+100.00% - Reign (vs. Reign (Repeat))
+93.75% - Two and a Half Men - 9:00 (vs. Two and a Half Men (Repeat))
+72.22% - The Odd Couple (vs. Mom (Repeat))
+69.23% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. The Big Bang Theory (Repeat))
+15.38% - Elementary (vs. Elementary (Repeat))
-10.00% - Backstrom (vs. Rake)
-12.50% - American Idol
-65.31% - The Blacklist (vs. 2014 Olympic Winter Games)
-81.63% - Allegiance (vs. 2014 Olympic Winter Games)
-83.67% - The Slap (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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5; 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 Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.2/6; "Late Show," 0.4/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.0/5.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.7/6 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 Seth Meyers" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2).

· 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.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/20/14):

NBC (19.925 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1) was the top draw once again on Thursday with its primetime portion of the "2014 Olympic Winter Games" (19.925 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1).

FOX (6.605 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) then had to settle for second place with new episodes of "American Idol" (9.193 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) and "Rake" (4.017 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #8).

Next up was CBS (6.625 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) and its all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (10.058 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2), "Mom" (7.161 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4), "Two and a Half Men" (6.513 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #5), "The Millers" (5.389 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) and "Elementary" (5.316 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.952 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) served up the season finale of "The Taste" (3.158 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #9) alongside a repeat of "Scandal" (2.541 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #10).

And finally, repeats of "The Originals" (0.908 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T11) and "Reign" (0.723 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T11) on The CW (0.815 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Originals" delivered a 0.1 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Reign" a 0.2 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - The Taste
-9.09% - Rake
-16.95% - 2014 Olympic Winter Games
-17.24% - American Idol

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+308.33% - 2014 Olympic Winter Games (vs. Various)
-38.46% - American Idol
-56.10% - The Taste (vs. Zero Hour/Grey's Anatomy)
-74.36% - Rake (vs. American Idol)

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," 5.3 rating, 15 share from midnight-1 a.m. ET; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5, and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/5.

·In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "Tonight," 2.4/12 at midnight; "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 1.1/3 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 1.1/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research