nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, november 10, 2012)

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

ABC (5.25 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) snagged the top spot on Saturday with its coverage of "College Football: Notre Dame at Boston College" (5.25 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1).

CBS (5.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then took home the silver with repeats of "Vegas" (4.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (5.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) and a new "48 Hours" (6.02 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) offered up its telecast of "College Football: K-State at TCU" (2.63 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5).

And finally, NBC (2.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night with its all-repeat lineup of "Revolution" (1.91 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #8), "Chicago Fire" (2.36 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.22 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

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

* "Saturday Night Live," with host Anne Hathaway and musical guest Rihanna, 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 2.6 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49.

* In both metered-market households and 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 11 percent in metered-market households (5.0 vs. 4.5).

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

ABC (7.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) was back in front on Saturday with its "Saturday Night College Football" (7.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) franchise.

FOX (4.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then claimed a silver with a full hour of "Cops" (4.48 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) and the network premiere of "UFC on FOX" (4.62 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2).

Next up was CBS (5.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with its mix of "CBS News Special: A South Carolina Republican Debate" (5.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5), a repeat of "NCIS" (5.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.49 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4).

And finally, primetime coverage of "College Football: Maryland at Notre Dame" (2.01 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7) on NBC (2.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night.

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

"Saturday Night Live," hosted by Emma Stone with musical guest Coldplay, averaged a 4.5/11 in metered-market households.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.7 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, up 8 percent versus "SNL's" 2.5 on the same night last year. "Saturday Night Live" was down just a tenth of a point from last week's season-high 2.8 to tie as the second highest rated "SNL" in the Local People Meters since the "SNL" season finale on May 21, 2011.

Source: Nielsen Media Research