nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, april 7, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (6.90 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its annual rebroadcast of "The Ten Commandments" (6.90 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

FOX (3.03 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then claimed second place with a full hour of "Cops" (3.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) and an encore of "Bones" (2.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4).

Next up was CBS (3.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with repeats of "How I Met Your Mother" (2.03 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10), "Mike & Molly" (2.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8) and "Criminal Minds" (4.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4) plus a new "48 Hours Mystery" (4.90 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

And finally, a new "Escape Routes" (1.17 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) led into repeats of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (2.72 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6), "Best Friends Forever" (1.60 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.93 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) on NBC (2.08 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

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

"Saturday Night Live" with host Sofia Vergara and musical guest One Direction, averaged a 5.0/13 in metered-market households. "SNL" was the night's #1 telecast in metered-market households, ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, NBC and Fox. Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 6 percent in metered-market households (5.0/13 vs. 4.7/12).

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.9 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" was the night's #1 program in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime telecasst on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 16 percent in the Local People Meters (2.9 vs. 2.5).

[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 (4/9/11):

FOX (6.56 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) maintained its Saturday reign thanks to its coverage of "NASCAR '11: Texas 500" (6.56 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1).

ABC (3.45 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then took home the silver with a rebroadcast of "War of the Worlds" (3.45 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

Next up was CBS (4.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) with encores of "The Mentalist" (4.05 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (4.28 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (3.45 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8), "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) on NBC (4.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) rounded out the evening.

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

"Saturday Night Live" (4.7/12 in metered-market households), hosted by Helen Mirren with musical guest Foo Fighters, dominated its time period. "SNL" was the #1 telecast of the night in metered-market households ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.5 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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research