NBC's CHICAGO FIRE Ties for No. 1 in Adults 18 - 49

At 10 p.m. ET,CHICAGO FIRE (1.9/5 in adults 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) tied for #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and led the hour outright among those networks in total viewers, adults 25-54 and other key categories. Versus its prior telecast on November 21, "Chicago Fire" is up 36 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9 from a 1.4), up 20 percent in adults 25-54 (2.4 vs. 2.0) and up 30 percent or 1.7 million persons in total viewers (7.210 million vs. 5.546 million).

* "Chicago Fire" set a series record in total viewers with its 7.2 million average and matched its second-best 18-49 rating to date, tying its series-debut (1.9 on October 10) and trailing only a November 7 telecast (2.2) that had a special "Voice" lead-in. "Chicago Fire" built by a best-yet 19 percent on its 18-49 lead-in.

* In the 10:30 lead-in to local news, "Chicago Fire" delivered a 14 percent margin of victory among ABC, CBS and NBC in the key news demo of adults 25-54 (with a 2.4 rating vs. a 2.1 for ABC's second-place "Nashville").

* At 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.6/4 in adults 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) jumped by 23 percent versus the show's prior telecast in 18-49 rating (1.6 vs. 1.3 on November 21) and was up 18 percent in total viewers (6.155 million vs. 5.197 million). From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew by 13 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7 from a 1.5) and 15 percent in total viewers (6.6 million vs. 5.7 million). "SVU" topped NBC's time-period average last season by 60 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 1.6 vs. a 1.0) and by 26 percent in total viewers (6.155 million vs. 4.868 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.

* From 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Whitney" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) grew by 18 percent versus the show's prior telecast in 18-49 rating (1.3 vs. 1.1 on November 21). In a highly competitive time period versus CBS's "Survivor," Fox's "X Factor," ABC's "The Middle" and CW's "Arrow," "Whitney" is up 8 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.3 from a 1.2) versus NBC's comedy average in the time period prior to "Whitney."

* From 8:30-9 p.m. ET, "Guys With Kids" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 3.6 million viewers overall) delivered a 27 percent increase versus the show's prior telecast in 18-49 rating (1.4 vs. 1.1 on November 21). "Guys With Kids" built on its 18-49 lead-in by 8 percent and has now matched or improved on its 18-49 lead-in with eight of nine telecasts in this time period.

In Late-Night Metered Markets Wednesday night:

* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.9/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5 with an encore.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2; "Nightline," 1.0/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

* 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" (1.1/4). 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 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

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