Last night, the second-season finale of "America's Got Talent" surged by 17 percent in adults 18-49 and 15 percent in total viewers above the results for last year's "Talent" finale, dominating the night by all key ratings measures, according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Paced by the "Talent" finale, NBC won Tuesday night in 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures. NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1, for the last 12 Tuesday nights in a row. In total viewers, NBC's 12.3 million average last night is the top result this summer for any broadcast network on any night of the week.

From 8-10 p.m. ET, the season finale of "America's Got Talent" (4.1 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 13.9 million viewers overall) jumped 17 percent in adults 18-49 and 15 percent in total viewers versus last year's finale (a 3.5/10 in 18-49 and 12.0 million viewers overall on August 17, 2006). This marks NBC's highest total viewership in this time period, excluding Olympics, since November 29, 2005 and the biggest overall viewership for any broadcast network telecast since May 29 (the season finale of "House"). It's also a series record for "America's Got Talent" in total viewers, topping the previous "live plus same day" record of 13.0 million for the second-season debut on June 6, 2007.

"America's Got Talent" dominated its two-hour time period in all key ratings categories, delivering a 64 percent margin of victory over its nearest competitor in adults 18-49 (4.1 vs. a 2.5 for CBS). In total viewers, "Talent" doubled the closest competition, with a margin of victory of 7.2 million persons, or 107 percent (13.9 million vs. CBS' 6.7 million).

"Talent" exhibited strong growth over its two-hour telecast, increasing by 38 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.7/12 from a 3.4/11) and by 32 percent in total viewers (to 15.5 million from 11.7 million) from its first to its fourth half-hour.

From 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Singing Bee" (3.3/9 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) won its time period by all key ratings measures, topping the ABC-CBS competition combined among adults 18-34, pending updates.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Tuesday night are: NBC, 3.9 rating, 11 share; CBS and ABC, 2.2/6; Fox 1.6/5; CW, 0.5/1. In overall total viewers, August 21 preliminary results are: NBC, 12.3 million; CBS, 6.6 million; ABC, 6.2 million; Fox, 4.0 million; and CW, 1.2 million.

In local-market late-night results last night, an encore telecast of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (3.7 rating, 9 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' first-run "Late Show with David Letterman" (2.9/7) and ABC's "Nightline" (3.0/7) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.4/5 with an encore telecast). Jay has finished #1 versus regular late-night competition on 235 of 242 nights so far this broadcast year in the metered markets (including ties).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, an encore "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1.6/6) topped CBS' first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5) and Kimmel. Conan has finished #1 versus regular competition on 231 of 242 nights so far this broadcast year in the metered markets (including ties).

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are live only.

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