nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, november 3, 2012)

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

CBS (10.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its special primetime coverage of "College Football: Alabama at LSU" (10.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1).

FOX (3.19 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then took home a distant second place with its telecast of "College Football: Oregon at USC" (3.19 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.93 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) offered up its coverage of "College Football: Oklahoma State at Kansas State" (2.93 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

And finally, NBC (2.61 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the evening with its broadcast of "2012 Breeders' Cup" (2.79 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) followed by the feature "Rudy" (2.53 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5).

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

* "Saturday Night Live," with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun, averaged a 5.0/12 in metered-market households, matching the show's second-highest overnights so far this season.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 3.0 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, scoring "SNL's" top rating in the Local People Meters since September 22 (with an episode hosted by Joseph Gordon-Levitt with musical guest Mumford & Sons) and matching the show's top LPM result since May 12 (with a telecast hosted by Will Ferrell with musical guest Usher).

* In the Local People Meters, "SNL" was the #1 show of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, topping all primetime programs on those networks.

* Versus the same night last year, "SNL" was up 2 percent in metered-market households (5.0 vs. 4.9) and up 7 percent in the Local People Meters (3.0 vs. 2.8).

* In national ratings so far this season, original telecasts of "Saturday Night Live" are up versus one year ago by 7 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 3.1 vs. a 2.9, "most current") and up 5 percent in total viewers (7.8 million vs. 7.5 million).

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/5/11):

CBS (18.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) saw monster numbers on Saturday with its coverage of the "SEC on CBS: LSU-Alabama" (18.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1).

A very distant second place then went to NBC (4.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) with its all-repeat lineup of "Harry's Law" (3.45 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6), "Prime Suspect" (4.03 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2).

Next up was FOX (2.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with a full hour of "Cops" (3.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) followed by a repeat of "Terra Nova" (1.91 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7).

And finally, ABC (2.98 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) didn't get much spark from its "Saturday Night College Football" (2.98 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) franchise.

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

"Saturday Night Live," hosted by Charlie Day with musical guest Maroon 5, averaged a 4.9/11 in metered-market households. This is the top-rated "SNL" in metered-market households since October 1.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.8 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49. This is the top-rated "SNL" in the local People Meters since the "SNL" season finale on May 21, 2011 (with host Justin Timberlake and musical guest Lady Gaga).

Source: Nielsen Media Research