Fast National ratings for Tuesday, February 19, 2013.
With “NCIS” leading the way, CBS swept each hour of Tuesday primetime and won the night easily overall and in a close rase with ABC among young viewers.
ABC was able to make things close in the key demo thanks to a strong airing for a “Bachelor” special.
On the negative side of the ledger, NBC’s “Smash” slipped in its second airing of the spring, while The CW’s “Cult” had an unimpressive debut.
Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 2.6 rating to top Tuesday night in the key demographic. ABC was second with a 1.8 key demo rating, followed by FOX’s 1.7 key demo rating. NBC averaged a 1.1 rating in the key demo, at least beating the 0.4 key demo rating for The CW.
Overall, CBS won primetime in a rout, averaging 15.65 million viewers and a 9.9 rating/15 share, far ahead of the 4.4/7 and 6.56 million viewers for ABC. NBC was third with a 2.4/4 and 3.68 million viewers, nipping the 2.1/3 and 3.48 million viewers for FOX. The CW averaged a 0.8/1 and 1.16 million viewers for Tuesday.
[Univision averaged 3.98 million viewers and a 1.6 rating among adults 18-49 for Tuesday night.]
8 p.m. – “NCIS” controlled the 8 p.m. hour for CBS with 20.93 million viewers and a 3.5 rating among adults 18-49. ABC’s “The Taste” was an uncompetitive second with 4.89 million viewers and a 1.6 key demo rating, just ahead of the 4.67 million viewers and 1.4 key demo rating for NBC’s “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers.” FOX was fourth with a new “Raising Hope” (3.7 million and a 1.5 key demo) and a “New Girl” repeat (2.82 million and a 1.3 key demo). The CW’s “Hart of Dixie” averaged 1.37 million viewers and a 0.5 key demo rating.
9 p.m. – “NCIS: Los Angeles” won the 9 p.m. hour for CBS with 16.34 million viewers and a 2.7 rating among adults 18-49. ABC’s “The Bachelor: Sean Tells All” special was a close second with a 2.6 key demo rating and a distant second with 8.14 million viewers. FOX was third with “New Girl” (4.36 million and a 2.2 key demo) and “The Mindy Project” (3.04 million and a 1.6 key demo), beating NBC’s “Go On” (3.32 million and a 1.1 key demo) and “The New Normal” (2.83 million and a 1.0 key demo). The series premiere of “Cult” averaged a not-long-for-this-Earth 941,000 viewers and a 0.3 key demo rating, but The CW can take relative solace in the lack of major drop at the half-hour.
10 p.m. – “Vegas” averaged 9.67 million viewers and a 1.5 rating among adults 18-49 to win the 10 p.m. hour in unimpressive fashion for CBS. The season premiere of “Body of Proof” averaged 6.66 million viewers, but only a 1.2 key demo rating. NBC’s “Smash” dipped by 25 percent to a 0.9 key demo rating and averaged 3.29 million viewers.
All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.