nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, february 14, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (15.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) was the top draw on Tuesday thanks to fresh installments of "NCIS" (19.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.06 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2) and "Unforgettable" (10.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5).

FOX (6.26 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then snagged the silver with new episodes of "Glee" (6.88 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4), "New Girl" (6.58 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2) and "Raising Hope" (4.69 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7).

Next up was NBC (5.36 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) with its mix of "The Biggest Loser 13" (5.82 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8) and "Parenthood" (4.44 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up a new "Last Man Standing" (7.59 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6), the return of "Cougar Town" (4.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9), week two of "The River" (4.99 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10) and a new "Body of Proof" (6.16 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12).

And finally, a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (0.75 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T13) led into a new "Ringer" (1.07 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T13) on The CW (0.91 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.4 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.5 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+4.55% - Unforgettable
+3.23% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Parenthood
-4.35% - Last Man Standing
-4.55% - Raising Hope
-4.88% - NCIS
-8.57% - New Girl
-9.09% - The Biggest Loser 13
-12.50% - Glee
-25.00% - Body of Proof (vs. 1/17/12)
-32.00% - The River
-40.00% - Ringer

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+46.67% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+45.45% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+40.00% - Raising Hope (vs. Traffic Light)
+20.00% - Cougar Town (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+15.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
+5.41% - NCIS
0.00% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
-3.03% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-10.53% - The River (vs. V)
-15.79% - Parenthood
-25.93% - The Biggest Loser 13
-33.33% - Glee
-57.14% - Ringer (vs. Hellcats)

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 0.7/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/6 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/15/11):

FOX (7.51 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T1) and CBS (15.90 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T1) split the demo crown on Tuesday as the former served up new episodes of "Glee" (10.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1), "Raising Hope" (5.57 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5) and "Traffic Light" (3.57 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9).

The Eye then offered up fresh installments of "NCIS" (19.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and "The Good Wife" (11.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6).

Next up was NBC (6.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (7.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) and "Parenthood" (5.10 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.21 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) served up its lineup of "No Ordinary Family" (5.04 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9), "V" (5.39 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7) and "Detroit 187" (5.21 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.73 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) and "Hellcats" (1.61 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) on The CW (1.67 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): One Tree Hill (14.30%), V (5.60%), Parenthood (0.00%), No Ordinary Family (0.00%), Hellcats (0.00%), NCIS: Los Angeles (-5.70%), Glee (-6.70%), Detroit 187 (-7.70%), The Good Wife (-9.10%), The Biggest Loser (-10.00%), NCIS (-11.90%), Traffic Light (-21.10%), Raising Hope (-21.40%).

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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