nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, july 16, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (3.33 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with a repeat of "Cops" (3.17 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) followed by the preview special "The Indestructibles" (3.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1).

ABC (3.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then took home the silver with encores of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" (2.45 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6) and "Primetime: Jaycee Dugard: In Her Own Words" (3.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3).

Next up was CBS (3.75 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) with the departing "Chaos" (3.04 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) followed by repeats of "The Mentalist" (3.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and "48 Hours Mystery" (4.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3).

And finally, repeats of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (2.16 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #10), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.43 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) on NBC (2.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) rounded out the evening.

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live" (3.7/9 in metered-market households), hosted by Justin Timberlake with musical guest Lady Gaga, dominated its time period, scoring the #1 rating of the night ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox. This is the top-rated "SNL" in metered-market households since the original run of this episode on May 21. Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 16 percent (3.7 vs. 3.2).

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.0 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox. This is the top-rated "SNL" in the Local People Meters since May 21. "SNL" is up 18 percent versus the same night last year (2.0 vs. 1.7).

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/17/10):

Mainstays "Cops" (4.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.25 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) had no trouble keeping FOX (4.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) in front on Saturday.

CBS (3.79 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) then claimed the silver with a new "The Bridge" (2.88 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) followed by repeats of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (3.38 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3).

Next up was ABC (2.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) with second runs of "Wipeout" (3.59 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4), "Rookie Blue" (2.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and a second "Rookie Blue" (2.38 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8).

And finally, a new "Persons Unknown" (1.69 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #10) lead into repeats of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.96 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8) and another "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.81 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4) on NBC (2.82 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4).

Source: Nielsen Media Research