nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, october 6, 2012)

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

ABC (4.95 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) was the most-watched network on Saturday with its "College Football: Nebraska at Ohio State" (4.95 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) coverage.

FOX (4.36 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) then shared the silver with its own "College Football: West Virginia at Texas" (4.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1) coverage.

Next up was NBC (3.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with its special primetime presentation of "College Football: Miami at Notre Dame" (3.50 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Made in Jersey" (2.75 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) and "Elementary" (3.51 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) alongside a new "48 Hours" (5.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) on CBS (3.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) closed out the evening.

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

* "Saturday Night Live," with host Daniel Craig and musical guest Muse (4.5/11 in metered-market households), dominated its time period. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, the "Saturday Night Live" rebroadcast averaged a 2.2 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49.

* "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 telecast of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the metered-market households and the Local People Meters, outscoring all primetime programs on those networks.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/8/11):

Coverage of the "ALCS, Game 1" (5.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) pushed FOX (5.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) into first place on Saturday.

ABC (5.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then took home a competitive silver with its mainstay "Saturday Night College Football" (5.12 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2).

Next up was CBS (4.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with repeats of "Mike & Molly" (3.69 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5), "2 Broke Girls" (4.00 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) and "48 Hours Mystery" (4.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (2.90 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), another "Harry's Law" (3.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8) and yet another "Harry's Law" (4.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7) on NBC (3.68 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) rounded out the evening.

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

"Saturday Night Live" (4.8/12 in metered-market households), hosted by Ben Stiller with musical guest Foster The People, dominated its time period, delivering the #1 rating of the night ahead of all primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. "Saturday Night Live" matched its rating for the same night last year in metered-market households.

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 telecast of the night ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.

Source: Nielsen Media Research