nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, april 2, 2011)

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

CBS (14.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1) dominated the night thanks to its penultimate night of "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship" (14.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1) coverage.

FOX (4.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then claimed a distant second place with its mainstays "Cops" (4.08 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.69 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

Next up was ABC (3.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with a rebroadcast of "Transformers" (3.91 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (3.74 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7), "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (4.53 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.17 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) on NBC (4.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

"Saturday Night Live" (5/0/12 in metered-market households), hosted by Elton John with musical guests Elton John and Leon Russell, dominated its time period. "SNL" was the #1 non-sports telecast of the night in metered-market households ahead of all primetime entertainment programs on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.6 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 non-sports telecast of the night, outscoring all primetime entertainment programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/3/10):

The penultimate night of the "NCAA Basketball Championship" (15.09 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) had no trouble putting CBS (15.09 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) in front on Saturday.

ABC (5.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) then claimed the silver with its annual rebroadcast of "The Ten Commandments" (5.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3).

Next up was FOX (4.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) with its mainstays "Cops" (4.16 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2).

And finally, repeats of "Parenthood" (2.09 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7), "Law & Order" (4.02 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.90 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4) on NBC (3.67 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research