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

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (10/2/14):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the nature of live sports, Fast Nationals for CBS are approximate.]

CBS (12.399 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday with its presentation of "Thursday Night Football Pre-Game" (10.024 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) and "Thursday Night Football" (12.874 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1).

ABC (10.415 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then claimed the silver with week two of "Grey's Anatomy" (9.073 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #5), "Scandal" (10.411 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) and "How to Get Away with Murder" (11.759 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3).

Next up was FOX (5.569 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with a new "Bones" (6.304 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #6) and the premiere of "Gracepoint" (4.833 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.808 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) served up a new "The Biggest Loser" (4.721 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7), the premieres of "Bad Judge" (5.862 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7) and "A to Z" (4.814 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T10) plus a new "Parenthood" (4.364 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7).

And finally, the season premieres of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.784 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) and "Reign" (1.054 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) closed out the evening on The CW (1.419 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.4 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Reign" a 0.5 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+3.70% - Thursday Night Football Pre-Game
0.00% - The Biggest Loser
-2.22% - Thursday Night Football
-6.25% - Bones
-7.14% - Parenthood
-13.16% - Scandal
-13.33% - Grey's Anatomy
-15.79% - How to Get Away with Murder

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+74.60% - Thursday Night Football (vs. Various)
+62.50% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. Scandal: The Secret Is Out)
+10.00% - Scandal (vs. Grey's Anatomy)
+4.00% - The Biggest Loser (vs. Parks & Recreation/Welcome to the Family)
-11.11% - How to Get Away with Murder (vs. Scandal)
-18.75% - Bad Judge (vs. Sean Saves the World)
-23.53% - Parenthood
-25.00% - Bones (vs. The X Factor)
-25.00% - The Vampire Diaries
-25.00% - Gracepoint (vs. Glee)
-36.84% - A to Z (vs. The Michael J. Fox Show)
-44.00% - Thursday Night Football Pre-Game (vs. The Big Bang Theory)
-60.00% - Reign (vs. The Originals)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/6 delayed by an NFL overrun; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.7/7.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.5/3 delayed by an NFL overrun; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.0/5.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET , ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.6/5 in metered-market households and a 0.6/4 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/5 delayed by an NFL overrun). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/3 delayed by an NFL overrun).

· At 1:35 a.m. ET , "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 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 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/3/13):

CBS (11.734 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) pulled out a close win on Thursday with a new "The Big Bang Theory" (17.751 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1), the premiere of "The Millers" (13.152 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and week two of "The Crazy Ones" (11.761 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5), "Two and a Half Men" (9.255 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6) and "Elementary" (9.244 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7) - its lowest-rated fall telecast to date.

ABC (8.545 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then snagged second place with its mix of "Scandal: The Secret Is Out" (5.743 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T11), "Grey's Anatomy" (9.388 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4) and the season premiere of "Scandal" (10.506 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) - a series high.

Next up was FOX (5.774 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with new episodes from "The X Factor" (6.999 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7) and "Glee" (4.549 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T11).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.545 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its mix of "Parks & Recreation" (3.463 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14) - tying its series low, the premieres of "Welcome to the Family" (3.316 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T15) - the lowest-rated fall comedy debut in NBC history - and "Sean Saves the World" (4.895 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T11) plus a new "The Michael J. Fox Show" (5.920 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9) and "Parenthood" (4.837 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10).

And finally, the return of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.551 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T15) and the launch of "The Originals" (2.146 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.9, #17) on The CW (2.348 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.8 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Originals" a 1.4 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+6.25% - Parenthood
0.00% - The X Factor
0.00% - Parks & Recreation
-4.76% - Elementary
-5.66% - The Big Bang Theory
-9.09% - Grey's Anatomy
-9.52% - The Michael J. Fox Show
-17.24% - Two and a Half Men
-20.00% - Glee
-27.50% - The Crazy Ones

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+300.00% - The Vampire Diaries (vs. The Next)
+200.00% - The Originals (vs. The Next)
+71.43% - Scandal
+54.55% - Parenthood (vs. Rock Center With Brian Williams)
+2.04% - The Big Bang Theory
0.00% - Parks & Recreation (vs. 30 Rock)
0.00% - The Michael J. Fox Show (vs. Parks & Recreation)
-6.45% - The Crazy Ones (vs. Person of Interest)
-10.81% - The Millers (vs. Two and a Half Men)
-11.11% - Scandal: The Secret Is Out (vs. Last Resort)
-14.29% - Welcome to the Family (vs. Up All Night)
-18.92% - Grey's Anatomy
-22.58% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Person of Interest)
-23.08% - Elementary
-23.81% - Sean Saves the World (vs. The Office)
-35.48% - The X Factor
-38.46% - 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," 2.5/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.6/7.

·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; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/6.

·From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.7/6 in metered-market households and a 0.8/5 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) 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" (0.3/2).

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

Source: Nielsen Media Research