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

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (3/19/15):

CBS (6.533 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) took home the demo crown on Thursday with its mix of "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament" (5.987 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T5), a "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (8.028 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) and more "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament" (6.607 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T3).

ABC (7.146 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) then was a close second with its trio of "Grey's Anatomy" (7.798 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T3), "Scandal" (7.957 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) and "American Crime" (5.683 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9).

Next up was FOX (8.405 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) and a new "American Idol" (8.108 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8) plus a second hour of "American Idol" (8.704 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T5).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.063 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) served up originals from "Dateline NBC" (6.379 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9), "The Blacklist" (8.369 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T5) and "The Slap" (3.440 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T11).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.558 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T11) and "Reign" (1.090 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) on The CW (1.324 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening. 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):
+50.00% - Dateline NBC
+16.67% - The Slap
+16.67% - The Vampire Diaries
+5.88% - American Idol
+5.88% - The Blacklist
0.00% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - American Idol
0.00% - Reign
-7.69% - Scandal
-14.29% - American Crime

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+162.50% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland)
+100.00% - The Blacklist (vs. Hollywood Game Night (Repeat))
+4.35% - Dateline NBC (vs. Community/Parks & Recreation)
0.00% - American Idol - 8:00 (vs. Hell's Kitchen)
0.00% - Scandal (vs. Grey's Anatomy)
-5.26% - American Idol - 9:00
-30.00% - The Vampire Diaries
-41.67% - The Slap (vs. Parenthood)
-42.86% - Reign
-58.62% - American Crime (vs. Scandal)

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," 1.1/4 with an encore delayed by basketball; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.5/6.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.3/2 with an encore delayed by basketball; 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 Seth Meyers" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show" (0.8/4 with an encore delayed by basketball). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2 with an encore delayed by basketball).

· 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 (3/20/14):

ABC (6.798 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) moved into the top demo spot on Thursday with its mix of "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (3.498 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13), "Grey's Anatomy" (7.972 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) and "Scandal" (8.923 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1).

FOX (6.830 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) then took home the silver with new episodes of "Hell's Kitchen" (5.296 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) and "American Idol" (8.365 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3).Next up was CBS (3.752 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) with its coverage of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: Second Round - Wofford #15 vs. Michigan #2" (4.096 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5), "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (3.004 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) and "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: Second Round - Arizona St. #10 vs. Texas #7" (3.608 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.467 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) offered up originals from "Community" (3.456 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #9) and "Parks & Recreation" (3.094 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5) followed by a repeat "Hollywood Game Night" (2.949 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) and a new "Parenthood" (4.176 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5).

And finally, The CW (1.935 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) closed out the evening with new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.235 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #10) and "Reign" (1.635 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.6 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Reign" a 0.9 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+16.67% - Reign
10.00% - Community
9.09% - Parks & Recreation
7.41% - Scandal
4.35% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - Parenthood
0.00% - The Vampire Diaries (vs. 3/4/14)
0.00% - Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
-10.53% - Hell's Kitchen
-13.64% - American Idol

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Parks & Recreation (vs. 1600 Penn)
+9.09% - Parenthood (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Repeat))
+7.41% - Scandal
0.00% - Reign (vs. Beauty and the Beast)
0.00% - Community
0.00% - NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: Second Round - Arizona St. #10 vs. Texas #7
-5.00% - American Idol (vs. Glee)
-16.67% - The Vampire Diaries
-17.24% - Grey's Anatomy
-36.84% - NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: Second Round - Wofford #15 vs. Michigan #2
-39.29% - Hell's Kitchen (vs. American Idol)
-40.00% - NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update
-52.94% - Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (vs. Wife Swap)

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," 3.4/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.2/4 with an encore delayed by basketball; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.7/7.

·In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "Tonight," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore delayed by basketball; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.0/5.

·From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.7/5 in metered-market households and a 0.6/3 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" (0.7/3 with an encore delayed by basketball). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2 with an encore delayed by basketball).

·At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research