nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, august 17, 2013)

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

FOX (3.061 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) pulled back into the top spot on Saturday with its repeat mix of "Cops" (3.107 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3), another "Cops" (3.515 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) and "Bones" (2.812 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5).

CBS (4.036 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) then was the most-watched network with its second run lineup of "The Mentalist" (3.174 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9), "48 Hours" (3.942 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5) and "48 Hours" (4.992 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2).

Next up was ABC (3.328 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) with a repeat of "The Middle" (2.697 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) followed by the feature "Mamma Mia!" (3.454 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

And finally, coverage of "USA Gymnastics: 2013 P&G Championships" (2.668 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5) and a new "Do No Harm" (1.888 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) on NBC (2.408 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Martin Short and musical guest Paul McCartney, averaged a 2.2/6 in metered-market households. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 0.9 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" posted the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, out-rating all primetime programming on those networks.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/18/12):

CBS (5.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) topped a night of repeats with its mix of "Person of Interest" (4.49 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T6), "Criminal Minds" (5.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1).

ABC (3.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) then snagged the silver with its presentation of "The Devil Wears Prada" (3.89 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) alongside a repeat of "Castle" (4.11 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T6).

Next up was FOX (3.20 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) with encores of "Cops" (3.66 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4), "Cops" (4.09 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) and "Mobbed" (2.52 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8).

And finally, rebroadcasts of "America's Got Talent" (2.68 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11), "Stars Earn Stripes" (2.58 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8) and another "Stars Earn Stripes" (2.43 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8) on NBC (2.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) closed out the night.

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

·An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Jason Segal and musical guest Florence + The Machine (2.5/6 in metered-market households), dominated its time period. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.2 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49, making it the night's #1 program in the Local People Meters on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, ahead of all primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Source: Nielsen Media Research