nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, december 10, 2011)

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

CBS (5.00 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) settled into the top demo spot on Saturday with its mix of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (5.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1), "The Flight Before Christmas" (4.49 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2).

ABC (5.64 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) however was the most-watched network with "Primetime Nightline: Bringing America Back" (3.29 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8) and "ABC News' Your Voice, Your Vote: Republican Presidential Candidate Debate in Iowa" (6.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

Next up was FOX (3.09 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) with a full hour of "Cops" (3.92 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) and a repeat of "Terra Nova" (2.26 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7).

And finally, "The American Giving Awards" (1.55 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #9) and a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.10 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) put NBC (2.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) out of the hunt to close the night.

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

"Saturday Night Live," with host Katy Perry and musical guest Robyn (4.8/12 in metered-market households) dominated its time period, matching "SNL's" highest metered-market household rating since November 5 (with host Charlie Day and musical guest Maroon 5, 4.9).

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.7 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime programming on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/11/10):

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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research