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 (1/7/15):

FOX (10.359 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with the return of "American Idol" (10.886 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) followed by the premiere of "Empire" (9.833 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) - FOX's highest rated series debut in three years among adults 18-49 (since "Touch" on 1/25/12).

ABC (6.288 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then had to settle for second place with originals from "The Middle" (8.486 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5), "The Goldbergs" (7.790 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4), "Modern Family" (9.229 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) and "Black-ish" (6.309 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6) plus encores of "Galavant" (3.383 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12) and another "Galavant" (2.530 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13).

Next up was CBS (8.714 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) with the relocated "The Mentalist" (8.993 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) and "The 41st Annual People's Choice Awards" (8.574 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.324 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up the winter premieres of "The Mysteries of Laura" (6.765 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.776 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8) and "Chicago PD" (7.432 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9).

And finally, repeats of "Arrow" (0.975 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.2, #15) and "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (1.086 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (1.031 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the former delivered a 0.2 rating while the latter posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+21.43% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. 12/10/14)
+14.29% - Chicago PD (vs. 12/10/14)
+13.64% - The Goldbergs (vs. 12/10/14)
+8.33% - The Mysteries of Laura (vs. 12/10/14)
+4.55% - The Middle (vs. 12/10/14)
+3.23% - Modern Family (vs. 12/10/14)
-7.14% - The Mentalist (vs. 12/28/14)
-8.70% - Black-ish (vs. 12/10/14)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+208.33% - Empire (vs. Step Brothers (Repeat))
+158.33% - American Idol (vs. Step Brothers (Repeat))
+66.67% - The Goldbergs (vs. Super Fun Night)
+16.67% - Black-ish (vs. Super Fun Night)
+4.55% - The Middle
-8.57% - Modern Family
-16.13% - The Mentalist (vs. 2 Broke Girls (Repeats))
-18.75% - The Mysteries of Laura (vs. Revolution)
-19.05% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-20.00% - Chicago PD
-21.74% - The 41st Annual People's Choice Awards

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," 2.3/6; 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 Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.5/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2.

· 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 Seth Meyers" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show " (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 with an encore 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 (1/8/14):

CBS (8.863 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1) was the top draw on Wednesday thanks to its presentation of "The 40th Annual People's Choice Awards" (10.179 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2). Leading off the night were repeats of "2 Broke Girls" (6.025 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9) and a second "2 Broke Girls" (6.438 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T7).

NBC (7.819 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T2) then claimed the silver with new episodes of "Revolution" (6.047 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T7) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.852 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) alongside the premiere of "Chicago PD" (8.558 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5).

Next up was ABC (5.952 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T2) and its original lineup of "The Middle" (8.766 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3), "Super Fun Night" (4.922 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9), "Modern Family" (9.535 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1), another "Super Fun Night" (4.886 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6) and a rebroadcast of "David Blaine: Real or Magic" (3.801 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.881 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) served up the feature "Step Brothers" (2.881 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12).

And finally, repeats of "Arrow" (1.322 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "The Tomorrow People" (0.860 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #14) on The CW (1.091 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Arrow" delivered a 0.3 rating while "Tomorrow" posted a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+31.25% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. 11/20/13)
+15.79% - The Middle (vs. 12/11/13)
+14.29% - Revolution (vs. 11/20/13)
0.00% - Modern Family (vs. 12/11/13)
0.00% - Super Fun Night (vs. 12/11/13)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+18.52% - Revolution (vs. Whitney/Guys With Kids)
0.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-8.33% - The Middle
-9.09% - Chicago PD (vs. Chicago Fire)
-11.54% - The 40th Annual People's Choice Awards
-25.00% - Super Fun Night - 8:30 (vs. The Neighbors)
-25.53% - Modern Family
-33.33% - Super Fun Night - 9:30 (vs. Suburgatory)

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; 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," 0.9/4; "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 1.2/4 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" (1.6/5 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 0.9/4 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