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 (3/18/15):

FOX (16.522 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) decimated the competition on Wednesday with a new "Empire" (15.578 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.0, #2) followed by the season finale of "Empire" (17.467 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.8, #1).

CBS (9.004 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then claimed a distant second place with new episodes of "Survivor: Worlds Apart" (9.846 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3), another "Survivor: Worlds Apart" (9.222 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) and "CSI: Cyber" (7.944 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6).

Next up was ABC (5.697 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and repeats of "The Middle" (5.154 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9), "The Goldbergs" (4.561 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #8), "Modern Family" (5.390 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5), "Black-ish" (4.442 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) plus the special "20/20: The Untold Story of 'The Sound of Music'" (7.318 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.470 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4) served up repeats of "The Mysteries of Laura" (4.447 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #15), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.731 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12) and "Chicago PD" (4.234 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "Arrow" (2.368 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12) and the relocated "Supernatural" (1.912 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) on The CW (2.140 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the former delivered a 0.5 rating while the latter posted a 0.5 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+21.43% - Empire
+4.55% - Survivor: Worlds Apart
-20.00% - Arrow (vs. 2/25/15)
-22.22% - CSI: Cyber
-22.22% - Supernatural (vs. 2/17/15)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+209.09% - Empire - 9:00 (vs. American Idol)
+172.73% - Empire - 8:00 (vs. American Idol)
+133.33% - 20/20: The Untold Story of 'The Sound of Music' (vs. Nashville (Repeat))
0.00% - Arrow
0.00% - Survivor: Worlds Apart - 9:00 (vs. Criminal Minds)
-4.17% - Survivor: Worlds Apart - 8:00
-22.22% - Supernatural (vs. The 100)
-30.00% - CSI: Cyber

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," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/5; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.2/6.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.3/2; 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" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show" (0.9/3 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1 with an encore).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/19/14):

CBS (9.909 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T1) was the most-watched network on Wednesday with its usual mix of "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.579 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1), "Criminal Minds" (10.055 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T2) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.094 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4).

FOX (9.662 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T1) then shared the demo crown with another two-hour edition of "American Idol" (9.662 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T2).

Next up was NBC (5.204 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with originals from "Revolution" (4.300 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.645 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #6) and "Chicago PD" (5.669 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.835 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) served up repeats of "The Middle" (5.100 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #8), "Suburgatory" (4.059 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11) and "Modern Family" (5.359 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5) followed by a new "Mixology" (3.598 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) and a repeat "Nashville" (2.447 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14).

And finally, a new "Arrow" (2.363 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) and the premiere of "The 100" (2.664 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) on The CW (2.513 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 0.7 rating while "100" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+14.29% - Arrow (vs. 3/5/14)
0.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-4.00% - Survivor: Cagayan
-4.35% - Criminal Minds
-6.25% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-7.69% - Revolution
-8.33% - American Idol
-12.50% - Chicago PD
-20.00% - Mixology

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Revolution (vs. Whitney/Whitney (Repeat))
0.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
0.00% - The 100 (vs. Supernatural)
-4.00% - Survivor: Cagayan
-11.11% - Arrow
-13.04% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-17.65% - Chicago PD (vs. Chicago Fire)
-20.00% - Mixology (vs. Suburgatory)
-26.67% - Criminal Minds
-37.14% - 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," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/5 with an encore; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5.

·In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "Tonight," 1.2/6; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

·From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 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" (1.5/5 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" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

·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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research