nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, march 23, 2012)

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

CBS (6.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1) was the network to beat on Friday with its coverage of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Baylor vs. Xavier" (5.87 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (4.62 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6) and "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kentucky vs. Indiana" (8.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1).

ABC (5.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "Shark Tank" (5.95 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (5.19 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) and "20/20" (5.40 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3).

Next up was FOX (2.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with the return of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.06 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7) and "Fringe" (2.88 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9) - both season lows.

Meanwhile, NBC (4.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up a new "Who Do You Think You Are?" (5.79 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7), a repeat of "Grimm" (3.34 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11) and a new "Dateline NBC" (4.36 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9).

And finally, originals of "Nikita" (1.56 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13) and "Supernatural" (1.57 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) on The CW (1.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+14.29% - 20/20
+6.67% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
0.00% - Who Do You Think You Are? (vs. 3/9/12)
0.00% - Nikita
-10.00% - Dateline NBC
-11.76% - Shark Tank
-14.29% - Supernatural
-25.00% - Fringe (vs. 2/24/12)
-33.33% - Kitchen Nightmares (vs. 2/24/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - Shark Tank
+23.08% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+20.00% - Supernatural (vs. Supernatural (Repeat))
+14.29% - 20/20
0.00% - Nikita (vs. Smallville (Repeat))
-23.08% - Who Do You Think You Are?
-33.33% - Kitchen Nightmares
-40.00% - Fringe
-50.00% - Dateline NBC

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," 1.9/5 with an encore delayed by basketball; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.7/4 with an encore delayed by basketball; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market household) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/4 with an encore delayed by basketball). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-4) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 with an encore delayed by basketball).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/25/11):

CBS (8.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) saw its best numbers to date from its NCAA coverage with its mix of "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game #1" (6.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3), "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (7.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) and "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game #2" (9.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1).

NBC (7.59 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then took home the silver with new episodes of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (6.55 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T8) and "Dateline NBC" (8.11 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4).

Next up was FOX (3.98 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with fresh installments of "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.07 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T5) and "Fringe" (3.88 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T5).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up the return of "Shark Tank" (4.83 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10) followed by new episodes of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.45 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T8) and "20/20" (5.04 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.47 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11) and "Supernatural" (1.12 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11) on The CW (1.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (28.60%), Fringe (15.40%), Who Do You Think You Are? (8.30% vs. 3/4/11), Kitchen Nightmares (0.00%), 20/20 (0.00%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (-13.30%), Shark Tank (-36.80% vs. 3/20/11).

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," 3.1/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/6 with an encore delayed by basketball; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/3; "Late Show," 0.7/4 with an encore delayed by basketball; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore delayed by basketball). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 with an encore delayed by basketball).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/3 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