NBC's CHICAGO FIRE Maintains Full Lead-In in Key Demo

From 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) earned NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the Wednesday 8-9 p.m. time period in 12 weeks (since January 9). In total viewers, "Dateline's" 5.882 million is NBC's biggest audience in the slot in four months (since November 28, 2012 with "Christmas in Rockefeller Center"). Last night's time-period competition included originals of "American Idol," "Survivor," "The Middle" and "Arrow." "Dateline" grew from its first half-hour to its second by 15 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.5 from a 1.3) and 14 percent in total viewers (6.3 million vs. 5.5 million). Versus NBC's season average in the slot, "Dateline" was up 8 percent in 18-49 rating (1.4 vs. 1.3) and 45 percent in total viewers (5.882 million vs. 4.059 million).

At 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.6/4 in adults 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) grew from its first half-hour to its second in nearly all key categories, including gains of 7 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.6 from a 1.5) and 8 percent in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 6.0 million. Keep in mind that last season, "Law & Order: SVU" originals added an average of 47 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings in 18-49 when Nielsen reported "live plus seven day" results.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Chicago Fire" (1.6/4 in adults 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) maintained its full lead-in in 18-49 rating and grew slightly versus lead-in in total viewers (6.259 million vs. 6.238 million). "Chicago Fire" also maintained its 18-49 rating from half-hour to half-hour and grew in adults 25-54 (with a 2.2 rating vs. a 2.1) and total viewers (6.267 million vs. 6.251 million), while rival dramas on ABC and CBS declined half-hour to half-hour in all three categories.

In Late-Night Metered Markets Wednesday night:

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," 2.5/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/3.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

It was the top Wednesday "Tonight Show" in nine weeks (since January 30, 2.9) and top Wednesday "Late Night" in three weeks (since March 13, 1.5). Both shows matched their highest Wednesday metered-market household ratings in 13 weeks (since January 2, 3.1 for "Tonight" and 1.6 for "Late Night").

Versus the prior Wednesday, Jay was up 12 percent in metered-market households (2.9 vs. 2.6) and up 29 percent in 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters (0.9 vs. 0.7). Jimmy was up versus the prior Wednesday by 7 percent in households (1.5 vs. 1.4) and 20 percent in 18-49 (0.6 vs. 0.5).

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.