nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, february 19, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (15.648 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) bested the competition on Tuesday with originals from "NCIS" (20.934 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.339 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) and "Vegas" (9.673 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T7), which matched its series low.

ABC (6.564 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "The Taste" (4.887 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T5), "The Bachelor: Sean Tells All" (8.144 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) and the return of "Body of Proof" (6.662 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12), which tied its series low.

Next up was FOX (3.477 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a new "Raising Hope" (3.700 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T7), a repeat of "New Girl" (2.817 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) plus new episodes of "New Girl" (4.356 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) and "The Mindy Project" (3.036 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T5).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.677 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offers up its combination of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (4.650 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10), another "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (4.693 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9), "Go On" (3.322 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13), "The New Normal" (2.826 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) and "Smash" (3.286 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) - all of which were series lows in adults 18-49.

And finally, a new "Hart of Dixie" (1.373 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16) and the debut of "Cult" (0.941 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.3, #17) on The CW (1.157 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.8 rating while "Cult" posted a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+6.67% - The Taste
-5.41% - NCIS (vs. 2/5/13)
-6.25% - Vegas (vs. 2/5/13)
-6.25% - Raising Hope (vs. 2/5/13)
-7.14% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers (vs. 1/29/13)
-8.33% - Go On (vs. 1/29/13)
-9.09% - The New Normal (vs. 1/29/13)
-10.00% - Smash (vs. 2/5/13)
-12.00% - New Girl (vs. 2/5/13)
-12.90% - NCIS: Los Angeles (vs. 2/5/13)
-15.79% - The Mindy Project (vs. 2/5/13)
-16.67% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 2/5/13)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+52.94% - The Bachelor: Sean Tells All (vs. The River)
+25.00% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Hart of Dixie (Repeat))
-6.90% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-7.89% - NCIS
-14.29% - Body of Proof
-17.95% - The Taste (vs. Last Man Standing/Cougar Town)
-21.05% - Vegas (vs. Unforgettable)
-26.67% - New Girl
-27.27% - The Mindy Project (vs. Raising Hope)
-40.00% - Cult (vs. Ringer)
-43.48% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers (vs. The Biggest Loser 13)
-47.06% - Smash (vs. Parenthood)
-48.28% - Raising Hope (vs. Glee)
-52.17% - Go On (vs. The Biggest Loser 13)
-56.52% - The New Normal (vs. The Biggest Loser 13)

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," 2.4/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/5.

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

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.3/4 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 Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

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

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/21/12):

CBS (15.33 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) edged out FOX (6.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) among adults 18-49 last night thanks to new episodes of "NCIS" (19.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.89 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T3) and "Unforgettable" (10.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8).

FOX then offered up the winter finale of "Glee" (7.40 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T3) followed by a new "New Girl" (6.25 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) and the 8:00/7:00c bound "Raising Hope" (4.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6).

Next up was NBC (6.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser 13" (6.66 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5) and "Parenthood" (4.91 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.76 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up its mix of "Last Man Standing" (7.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6), "Cougar Town" (4.45 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9), "The River" (4.78 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9) and "Body of Proof" (6.54 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

And finally on The CW (1.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (1.06 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) led into a new "Ringer" (1.41 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.5 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+66.67% - Ringer
+16.67% - Body of Proof
+15.00% - The Biggest Loser 13
+6.25% - Parenthood
+4.76% - Raising Hope
+3.57% - Glee
0.00% - Last Man Standing
0.00% - The River
-2.56% - NCIS
-5.56% - Cougar Town
-6.25% - New Girl
-9.38% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-17.39% - Unforgettable

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+57.14% - Last Man Standing
+29.41% - Raising Hope
+21.43% - Cougar Town
+20.00% - New Girl
0.00% - Body of Proof
0.00% - Unforgettable
-10.53% - The River
-13.64% - NCIS
-14.81% - The Biggest Loser 13
-16.67% - Ringer
-19.05% - Parenthood
-25.64% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-32.56% - Glee

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," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; 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," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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