nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, december 11, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (5.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) institutions "Cops" (4.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) and "America's Most Wanted" (5.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) once again held off the competition on Saturday.

NBC (4.92 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T2) then had to settle for second place with its annual presentation of "It's a Wonderful Life" (4.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5).

Next up was CBS (4.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T2) with encores of "Frosty the Snowman" (4.52 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3), "Frosty Returns" (4.23 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) and "The Flight Before Christmas" (4.16 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.31 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5).

And finally, the feature "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (3.77 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #8) on ABC (3.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, a new "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 5.3 household rating, 13 share in the metered markets.

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/12/09):

Mainstays "Cops" (5.39 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T1) and "America's Most Wanted" (5.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T1) gave FOX (5.43 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) an easy victory on a low-key Saturday.

The silver then went to CBS (4.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) with its mix of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (4.36 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3), "The Flight Before Christmas" (4.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5).

Next up was NBC (4.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with its annual presentation of "It's a Wonderful Life" (4.54 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6).

And finally, repeats of "The Polar Express" (4.02 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) and "Castle" (3.70 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #8) on ABC (3.92 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research