nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, april 4, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (14.39 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1) was the network to beat on Monday thanks to its coverage of the "NCAA Basketball Championship" (18.69 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.7, #1). Leading into the broadcast were repeats of "The Big Bang Theory" (9.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T4), "Rules of Engagement" (7.38 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6) and the "NCAA Basketball Championship Pre-Game" (13.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.4, #3).

ABC (18.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2) then took home the silver with fresh installments of "Dancing With the Stars" (21.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #2) and "Castle" (11.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T4).

Next up was FOX (4.16 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with encores of "House" (4.44 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7) and "The Chicago Code" (3.88 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) was out of the hunt with a repeat of "Chuck" (2.46 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) followed by a new "The Event" (3.93 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) and the season finale of "Harry's Law" (7.40 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #8), a series low.

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.86 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #13) and "Gossip Girl" (0.68 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) on The CW (0.77 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Event (0.00%), Dancing With the Stars (-9.80%), Castle (-12.10%), Harry's Law (-18.80%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/7 with an encore delayed by basketball; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.7/4 with an encore delayed by basketball; "Nightline," 1.3/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/5, delayed by basketball). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2, delayed by basketball).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 with an encore 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 (4/5/10):

CBS (16.23 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.5, #1) claimed the top spot on Monday thanks to its "NCAA Basketball Championship" (19.10 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1) coverage as well as a repeat of "The Big Bang Theory" (10.78 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4) and a new "Rules of Engagement" (10.19 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3).

ABC (18.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) then had to settle for second place despite strong numbers from "Dancing With the Stars" (20.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.0, #2) and "Castle" (12.30 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5).

Next up was FOX (7.26 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with a new "24" (6.63 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7) followed by a second hour of "24" (7.90 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.18 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up new episodes of "Chuck" (5.77 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7), "Trauma" (5.03 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #9) and a repeat of "Law & Order" (4.74 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "Life Unexpected" (1.81 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) and "Gossip Girl" (1.71 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11) on The CW (1.76 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research