nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, may 7, 2013)

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

NBC (9.436 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1) was of course the network to beat with a special two-hour "The Voice" (11.149 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) and a new "Grimm" (6.009 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T5).

CBS (12.380 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) nevertheless was the top overall draw with its mix of "NCIS" (16.992 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (13.023 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) and "Golden Boy" (7.125 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10).

Next up was FOX (4.006 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with originals from "Hell's Kitchen" (4.674 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T5), "New Girl" (3.965 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) and "The Mindy Project" (2.710 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #9).

Meanwhile, ABC (7.666 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up the season finale of "Splash" (4.355 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11) alongside new episodes of "Dancing with the Stars" (10.505 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #7) and "Body of Proof" (8.138 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8).

And finally, the season finale of "Hart of Dixie" (1.243 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) and a repeat of "America's Next Top Model" (0.654 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) on The CW (0.948 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.8 rating while "Model" posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+13.33% - Dancing with the Stars
+11.11% - Splash
+9.09% - NCIS: Los Angeles
+5.00% - New Girl
0.00% - Hell's Kitchen
0.00% - The Mindy Project
0.00% - Hart of Dixie
-2.70% - The Voice
-3.33% - NCIS
-5.00% - Grimm
-6.67% - Body of Proof (vs. 4/23/13)
-7.69% - Golden Boy

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+28.57% - The Voice (vs. Fashion Star/The Voice)
-3.33% - NCIS
-6.67% - Body of Proof (vs. Private Practice)
-16.67% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 90210)
-18.75% - The Mindy Project (vs. New Girl (Repeat))
-20.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-25.00% - New Girl
-26.09% - Dancing with the Stars
-26.92% - Hell's Kitchen (vs. Glee)
-37.50% - Splash (vs. Last Man Standing/Cougar Town)
-40.00% - Golden Boy (vs. Unforgettable)
-55.81% - Grimm (vs. The Voice)

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," 2.2/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.2/6.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.4/5 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/8/12):

NBC (9.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) was the top demo draw on Tuesday thanks to the two-hour season finale of "The Voice" (11.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #1). Leading off the night was a special early edition of "Fashion Star" (4.41 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) - its lowest rating to date.

The silver then went to CBS (14.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) with new episodes of "NCIS" (17.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T2) - its season low - and "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T2) plus the season finale of "Unforgettable" (10.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7).

Next up was FOX (5.49 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with its mix of "Glee" (6.49 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #5), the season finale of "New Girl" (5.53 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) and a repeat of "New Girl" (3.44 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9).

Meanwhile, ABC (8.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up its season finale of "Last Man Standing" (6.60 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8) - tied for its series low for results shows - followed by new episodes of "Cougar Town" (4.72 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10), "Dancing With the Stars" (13.31 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and "Private Practice" (6.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10) - its series low.

And finally, originals of "90210" (1.32 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13) and "The L.A. Complex" (0.68 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) on The CW (1.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 0.9 rating while "Complex" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+38.71% - The Voice
+33.33% - New Girl
+21.43% - Last Man Standing
+15.38% - Cougar Town
+11.11% - Unforgettable
8.33% - Glee
0.00% - NCIS
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Dancing With the Stars
0.00% - 90210
0.00% - The L.A. Complex
-13.33% - Fashion Star
-28.57% - Private Practice

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+27.27% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+19.44% - The Voice (vs. The Biggest Loser/The Voice)
+7.14% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
0.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
-14.29% - NCIS
-15.00% - Last Man Standing (vs. Dancing With the Stars Recap)
-25.00% - Cougar Town (vs. Dancing With the Stars Recap)
-27.78% - Glee
-28.13% - Dancing With the Stars
-28.57% - Private Practice (vs. Body of Proof)
-40.00% - The L.A. Complex (vs. Hellcats)
-50.00% - Fashion Star (vs. The Biggest Loser)

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; 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," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 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