nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, october 16, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the live Presidential Debate coverage, Fast Nationals for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC are approximate.]

NBC (12.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1) overshadowed the competition on Tuesday with its mix of "The Voice" (12.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.6, #2), "NBC News Special" (12.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1) and "Debate Analysis" (10.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #3).

ABC (11.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then took home a distant second place with its lineup of "Dancing with the Stars" (12.69 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7), "ABC News Special" (11.54 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4) and "Debate Analysis" (9.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5).

Next up was CBS (8.23 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) with a repeat of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (8.15 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12) followed by its "CBS News Special" (8.66 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and "Debate Analysis" (7.10 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8).

Meanwhile, FOX (4.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up new episodes of "Raising Hope" (4.28 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9) and "Ben & Kate" (2.91 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) alongside "FOX News Special" (4.34 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9) and "Debate Analysis" (3.83 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #11).

And finally, a new "Hart of Dixie" (1.32 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) lead into the debut of "Emily Owens, MD" (1.69 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) on The CW (1.51 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.9 rating while "Emily" posted a 0.8 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Hart of Dixie
+4.55% - The Voice
0.00% - Dancing with the Stars
-5.56% - Raising Hope
-20.00% - Raising Hope

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+142.11% - The Voice (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
-14.29% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 90210)
-19.23% - Dancing with the Stars
-37.50% - Emily Owens, MD (vs. Ringer)
-52.78% - Raising Hope (vs. The X Factor)
-66.67% - Ben & Kate (vs. The X Factor)

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," 2.6/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.6/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.4/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 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 (10/18/11):

FOX (10.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday thanks to special editions of "The X Factor" (9.94 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and a second "The X Factor" (10.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1).

CBS (15.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then claimed the silver with its lineup of "NCIS" (19.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4) and "Unforgettable" (11.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

Next up was ABC (10.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with week two of "Last Man Standing" (10.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) followed by the premiere of "Man Up!" (7.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #8) and fresh installments of "Dancing With the Stars" (13.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "Body of Proof" (9.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.09 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up new episodes of "The Biggest Loser 12" (5.15 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10) and "Parenthood" (4.97 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.44 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and "Ringer" (1.79 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) on The CW (1.62 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.2 rating while "Ringer" posted a 1.1 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+16.67% - 90210
+8.70% - Unforgettable
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Ringer
0.00% - Body of Proof
-2.56% - NCIS
-4.76% - Parenthood
-5.00% - The Biggest Loser 12
-9.09% - Last Man Standing
-18.75% - Dancing With the Stars

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+36.36% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+14.29% - Ringer (vs. Life Unexpected)
+9.09% - Man Up! (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+5.26% - Parenthood
0.00% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
-3.85% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-9.52% - NCIS
-15.38% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-16.13% - Dancing With the Stars
-24.00% - The Biggest Loser 12
-30.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)

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 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

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

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research