nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, march 9, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (2.652 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the top demo draw on a low-key Saturday thanks to its mix of a new "Cops" (3.341 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) followed by repeats of "Cops" (3.530 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) and "The Following" (1.869 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7).

CBS (4.546 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) then was the most-watched network with encores of "Person of Interest" (4.042 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) and "48 Hours" (4.134 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) plus a new "48 Hours" (5.463 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3).

Next up was ABC (3.391 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) with rebroadcasts of "Once Upon a Time" (0.000 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) and a two-hour "20/20" (0.000 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4).

And finally, NBC (2.156 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night with its mix of "American Ninja Warrior" (2.176 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7), "Chicago Fire" (1.878 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and a primetime "Saturday Night Live" (2.414 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4).

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

* "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Justin Timberlake, averaged a 5.9/15 in metered-market households, the show's top overnights in 14 months, since January 7, 2012 (with host Charles Barkley and musical guest Kelly Clarkson on the night of a primetime NFL playoff game). "SNL" scored the #1 rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in metered-market households, topping all primetime telecasts on those networks.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 3.7 rating, 18 share in adults 18-49, the show's highest result in the LPMs since January 7, 2012. "SNL" delivered the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, more than tripling the result of each primetime program on those networks.

* Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 37 percent in metered-market households (with a 5.9 rating vs. a 4.3) and up 42 percent in 18-49 rating in the 25 Local People Meter markets (3.7 vs. 2.6). Last night's telecast featured appearances by Dan Aykroyd, Alec Baldwin, Candice Bergen, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Martin Short and Paul Simon.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/10/12):

ABC (3.80 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) was the network to beat for the second week in a row on Saturday with an encore of "Winter Wipeout" (2.93 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4) and a two-hour "20/20: My Extreme Affliction" (4.24 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2).

CBS (3.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then took home the silver with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (2.77 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6) and "Criminal Minds" (3.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.09 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1).

Next up was NBC (3.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) with week two of "Q'Viva! The Chosen" (1.83 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (4.40 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.52 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4) bookended a new "The Firm" (3.46 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6) on FOX (1.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) to close out the night.

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

"Saturday Night Live" (4.3/11 in metered-market households) with host Jonah Hill and musical guest The Shins, dominated its time period with the highest rating of the night in metered-market households, ahead of all Saturday primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.6 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49 to rank #1 among the night's telecasts ahead of all Saturday primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Source: Nielsen Media Research