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

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (9/26/13):

CBS (14.207 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday with the return of "The Big Bang Theory" (18.303 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.3, #2), a second "The Big Bang Theory" (19.515 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1), the premiere of "The Crazy Ones" (15.606 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #3) and the season openers to "Two and a Half Men" (11.543 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) - its lowest-rated premiere ever - and "Elementary" (10.138 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7).

ABC (7.893 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then took home the silver with a rebroadcast of "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" (5.166 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13) followed by the season premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" (9.180 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5) - its lowest-rated premiere ever - and a second "Grey's Anatomy" (9.333 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #4).

Next up was FOX (5.773 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with a new "The X Factor" (6.381 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T10) alongside the season debut of "Glee" (5.166 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T10) - its lowest-rated premiere ever.

Meanwhile, NBC (5.258 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up the return of "Parks & Recreation" (3.668 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14) - its lowest rated premiere ever (also matching its series low), a second "Parks & Recreation" (2.985 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #15), the series premiere of "The Michael J. Fox Show" (7.217 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7) - the lowest rated Thursday fall comedy series premiere ever in NBC history, a second "The Michael J. Fox Show" (7.347 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7) and the return of "Parenthood" (5.166 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12) - its lowest rated premiere ever.

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (0.924 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) and "America's Next Top Model" (0.789 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.2, #17) on The CW (0.856 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 0.4 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Top Model" a 0.3 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+5.26% - The X Factor

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+65.71% - The Big Bang Theory - 8:30 (vs. Two and a Half Men)
+54.55% - Grey's Anatomy - 10:00 (vs. Scandal)
+37.93% - The Crazy Ones (vs. Person of Interest)
+33.33% - Parenthood (vs. Rock Center With Brian Williams)
+10.42% - The Big Bang Theory - 8:00
0.00% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Person of Interest)
0.00% - The Michael J. Fox Show - 9:30 (vs. Parks & Recreation)
-12.50% - The Michael J. Fox Show - 9:00 (vs. The Office)
-20.00% - Glee
-23.26% - Grey's Anatomy - 9:00
-23.53% - Parks & Recreation - 8:00 (vs. Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday)
-32.26% - Elementary
-33.33% - Parks & Recreation - 8:30 (vs. Up All Night)
-37.50% - 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," 2.3/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.2/6.

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

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.4/5 in metered-market households and a 0.5/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/3).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 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 (9/27/12):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to local market NFL preemptions, Fast Nationals for NBC are approximate.]

CBS (13.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) pulled in front on Thursday with the season premieres of "The Big Bang Theory" (15.31 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1), "Two and a Half Men" (12.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) - its lowest-rated telecast ever, "Person of Interest" (14.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and "Elementary" (13.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #5).

ABC (9.21 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then took home the silver with the launch of "Last Resort" (9.08 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T9) followed by the return of "Grey's Anatomy" (11.55 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2) and "Scandal" (7.01 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T9).

Next up was FOX (7.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and its week three lineup of "The X Factor" (9.19 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4) and "Glee" (5.93 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up its mix of "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" (5.43 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #13), "Up All Night" (4.46 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #12), "The Office" (5.23 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.4, #8), "Parks & Recreation" (4.46 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11) and "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (4.17 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14).

And finally, a repeat of "The Vampire Diaries" (0.77 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T15) and a new "The Next" (0.68 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T15) closed out the night for The CW (0.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "The Vampire Diaries" delivered a 0.3 rating while "The Next" posted a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
38.46% - Up All Night
23.53% - Parks & Recreation
14.29% - The Office
9.09% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
6.25% - Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday
-5.88% - The X Factor
-13.79% - Glee
-50.00% - The Next

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+46.67% - Last Resort (vs. Charlie's Angels)
+29.63% - Two and a Half Men (vs. How to Be a Gentleman)
+24.00% - Elementary (vs. The Mentalist)
+22.86% - Grey's Anatomy
+7.41% - Person of Interest
0.00% - The Big Bang Theory
-5.56% - Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday (vs. Community)
-11.11% - The X Factor
-14.29% - Up All Night (vs. Parks & Recreation)
-16.00% - Parks & Recreation (vs. Whitney)
-20.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Prime Suspect)
-21.43% - Scandal (vs. Private Practice)
-29.41% - The Office
-40.48% - Glee (vs. The X Factor)
-66.67% - The Next (vs. The Secret Circle)

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," 2.9/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

·In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

·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" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

·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