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 (3/17/16):

FOX (8.121 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) was the top draw on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (7.905 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) and a second "American Idol" (8.337 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2).

ABC (6.625 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) then shared in the demo honors with its mix of "Grey's Anatomy" (7.887 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1), "Scandal" (6.513 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) and the season finale of "How to Get Away with Murder" (5.476 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #5).

Next up was CBS (4.165 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and its lineup of "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament" (4.166 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8), "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (3.961 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) and more "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament" (4.265 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.502 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up a new "You, Me and the Apocalypse" (2.787 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #10), a repeat "The Blacklist" (2.703 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #11) and an original "Shades of Blue" (5.016 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #9).

And finally, The CW (1.076 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening with repeats of "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" (1.301 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) and "The 100" (0.851 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - Scandal
0.00% - How to Get Away with Murder
0.00% - Shades of Blue
0.00% - You, Me and the Apocalypse
-5.56% - American Idol - 9:00
-11.11% - American Idol - 8:00

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+42.86% - Shades of Blue (vs. The Slap)
+16.67% - How to Get Away with Murder (vs. American Crime)
0.00% - Grey's Anatomy
-5.56% - American Idol - 9:00
-5.88% - American Idol - 8:00
-33.33% - Scandal
-33.33% - NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - 8:00
-38.10% - NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - 10:00
-50.00% - You, Me and the Apocalypse (vs. Dateline NBC)
-50.00% - NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update

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; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 1.2/4, delayed by an NCAA overrun; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.1/5.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.4/2, delayed by an NCAA overrun; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.4/4 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" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show" (0.8/3 with an encore delayed by an NCAA overrun). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2 with an encore delayed by an NCAA overrun).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research