Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (9/25/13):

ABC (8.797 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) topped a tight demo race on Wednesday with the return of "The Middle" (8.756 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7) followed by the premiere "Back in the Game" (7.885 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10) - ABC's lowest-rated fall comedy premiere since 2009 ("Hank"), the season debut of "Modern Family" (11.434 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2) - lowest-rated premiere ever, a second "Modern Family" (11.462 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) and the return of "Nashville" (6.623 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T11).

FOX (7.606 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then snagged the silver with a new "The X Factor" (7.293 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7) followed by a second "The X Factor" (7.920 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #5).

Next up was CBS (9.888 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T3) with week two of "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (9.413 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #9) - its series low - followed by the season premieres of "Criminal Minds" (11.289 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (8.962 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T11) - both their lowest-rated premieres ever.

Meanwhile, NBC (8.597 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T3) served up the return of "Revolution" (6.785 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #13) - matching its series low, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.070 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6) and a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.936 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) - its best 18-49 numbers since 5/18/11.

And finally, a repeat "Arrow" (1.180 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) and the season finale of "Capture" (0.631 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.2, #15) on The CW (0.906 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 0.5 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Capture" a 0.2 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+14.29% - The X Factor - 8:00
+13.04% - The X Factor - 9:00
-11.54% - Survivor: Blood vs. Water

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+31.25% - Nashville (vs. Revenge: The First Chapter)
+27.27% - Modern Family - 9:30 (vs. The Neighbors)
+26.09% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - 10:00
+25.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - 9:00
+20.00% - Revolution (vs. Animal Practice/Guys With Kids)
-9.68% - Criminal Minds
-11.11% - The Middle
-16.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-22.58% - The X Factor - 8:00
-23.33% - Survivor: Blood vs. Water
-24.14% - Back in the Game (vs. The Middle)
-27.27% - Modern Family - 9:00
-27.78% - The X Factor - 9:00
-33.33% - Capture (vs. Supernatural (Repeat))

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," 2.8/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/7; and ABC's "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," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.5/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/6 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" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/5 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/26/12):

FOX (9.45 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) held onto the demo crown on Wednesday thanks to a new "The X Factor" (8.79 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4) and a second hour of "The X Factor" (10.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2).

ABC (8.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then took home the silver with the season premiere of "The Middle" (8.75 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #8), a second "The Middle" (9.20 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.9, #7), the return of "Modern Family" (14.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.5, #1), the debut of "The Neighbors" (9.28 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and the recap special, "Revenge: The First Chapter" (5.39 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T12).

Next up was CBS (10.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and its returning lineup of "Survivor: Philippines" (10.16 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #6), "Criminal Minds" (11.59 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.66 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.39 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) was out of the hunt with the formal debuts of "Animal Practice" (5.19 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #14) and "Guys With Kids" (4.78 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T12) followed by the season premiere of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.53 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11) plus a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.67 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10).

And finally, the penultimate week of "Oh Sit!" (0.93 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) and a repeat of "Supernatural" (0.72 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) on The CW (0.83 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Oh Sit!" delivered a 0.4 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Supernatural" a 0.3 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - The X Factor - 8:00
0.00% - Oh Sit!
-3.23% - Survivor: Philippines
-10.00% - The X Factor - 9:00

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+66.67% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - 9:00 (vs. Harry's Law)
+60.00% - Guys With Kids (vs. Free Agents)
+15.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - 10:00
+3.85% - The Middle - 8:00
+3.12% - The Neighbors (vs. Happy Endings)
-1.79% - Modern Family
-3.23% - Survivor: Philippines
-12.12% - The Middle - 8:30 (vs. Suburgatory)
-13.89% - The X Factor - 8:00
-13.89% - Criminal Minds
-16.28% - The X Factor - 9:00
-16.67% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
-33.33% - Oh Sit! (vs. H8R)
-33.33% - Animal Practice (vs. Up All Night)
-40.74% - Revenge: The First Chapter

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," 2.8/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

·At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 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) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

·At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research