nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, january 5, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

Coverage of "NFC Wild Card Game: Minnesota at Green Bay" (26.047 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1) sparked a big night for NBC (26.047 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1) on Saturday.

CBS (4.764 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then claimed the leftovers with its mix of "The Mentalist" (3.811 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), "48 Hours" (4.594 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) and a new "48 Hours" (5.889 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was FOX (2.429 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) with a new "Cops" (2.635 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4), a repeat of "Cops" (2.866 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) and the penultimate "The Mob Doctor" (2.107 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

And finally, ABC (1.932 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the evening with repeats of "Once Upon a Time" (1.990 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), another "Once Upon a Time" (1.890 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and a third "Once Upon a Time" (1.919 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7).

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

* An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live" (5.3 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun, dominated its time period with the highest "SNL" average for an encore in four years, since the October 11, 2008 rebroadcast hosted by Michael Phelps with musical guest Lil Wayne (5.5/13).

* Note that NBC carried the highly rated Vikings-Packers NFL Wild Card Playoff Game in primetime.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.8 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, its highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters for an encore in four years, since November 8, 2008 (with host James Franco and musical guest Kings of Leon, 2.9/18).

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/7/12):

NBC (27.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.0, #1) dominated primetime on Saturday thanks to its coverage of the "NFL Wild Card Playoff: Detroit at New Orleans" (27.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.0, #1).

ABC (4.79 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then took home a distant silver with a repeat of "Winter Wipeout" (3.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) followed by "Your Voice, Your Vote - Republican Presidential Debate in New Hampshire" (5.41 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.49 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) with a full hour of "Rules of Engagement" (1.98 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7) repeats, a repeat of "The Mentalist" (3.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (4.83 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

And finally, an hour of "Cops" (3.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) and a repeat of "Terra Nova" (1.36 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #8) on FOX (2.26 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) closed out the evening.

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

"Saturday Night Live" (7.4/18 in metered-market households from 11:45 p.m.-1:15 a.m.) with host Charles Barkley and musical guest Kelly Clarkson, dominated its time period with the highest "SNL" average in local-market households in the past 52 weeks, since the January 8, 2011 edition hosted by Jim Carrey with musical guest The Black Keys (7.8/18).

Note that "Saturday Night Live" was delayed by the overrun of the Lions-Saints NFL Wild Card Playoff Game.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.3 rating, 18 share in adults 18-49, its highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters since the "SNL" season finale on May 21, 2011 (with host Justin Timberlake and musical guest Lady Gaga, 4.5/18).

Source: Nielsen Media Research