nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, july 21, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (4.04 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) was the top draw on Saturday with its mix of "NYC 22" (3.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10), "48 Hours Mystery" (4.19 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) and a second "48 Hours Mystery" (4.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1).

NBC (3.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) then shared the demo crown with its special "30 Greatest NBC Olympic Moments" (2.84 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) followed by repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.72 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2).

Next up was FOX (1.89 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with repeats of "Cops" (2.02 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5), another "Cops" (2.46 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and "Mobbed" (1.54 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5).

And finally, ABC (2.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the evening with its all-repeat lineup of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (2.12 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10), "Castle" (2.92 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and "Castle" (3.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10).

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Usher (3.1/8 in metered-market households), dominated its time period. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, making it the night's #1 program in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

"Saturday Night Live" earned its highest metered-market household and Local People Meter ratings in six weeks (since June 9).

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

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/23/11):

A rebroadcast of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (3.28 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) was enough to put ABC (3.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) on top on Saturday.

FOX (2.54 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then claimed the silver with encores of "Cops" (3.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3), "Family Guy" (2.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) and "The Cleveland Show" (1.79 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6).

Next up was CBS (5.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.93 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8), "NCIS" (5.95 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3).

And finally, repeats of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (2.01 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #10), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.67 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) on NBC (3.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) rounded out the evening.

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):
In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox. "SNL" is up 6 percent versus the same night last year (1.7 vs. 1.6).

Source: Nielsen Media Research