Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/14/13):

CBS (5.200 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its holiday rebroadcasts of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (5.771 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1), "Frosty the Snowman" (5.221 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) and "Frosty Returns" (4.522 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.959 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T4).

FOX (2.406 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then claimed the silver with its coverage of "UFC on FOX 9" (2.406 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T4).

Next up was NBC (3.159 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) with an encore of "The Sound of Music Live!" (3.159 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6).

And finally, repeats of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" (3.213 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) and "CMA Country Christmas" (3.852 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) on ABC (3.639 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night.

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

· "Saturday Night Live," with host John Goodman and musical guest Kings of Leon, averaged a 4.5/11 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 2.1/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, making it the #1 telecast of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in both metered-market households and 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime programming on those networks in both categories.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/15/12):

CBS (5.56 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with repeats of the feature "Elf" (5.14 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1) and "48 Hours" (6.40 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1).

Second place then went to ABC (2.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) with its rebroadcast of "Transformers" (2.96 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3).

Next up was FOX (2.18 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) with the return of "Cops" (2.61 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4) followed by repeats of "Cops" (2.82 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4) and "Kitchen Nightmares" (1.65 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7).

And finally, repeats of "Chicago Fire" (2.27 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), another "Chicago Fire" (2.79 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8) and even more "Chicago Fire" (2.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) on NBC (2.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the evening.

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

* "Saturday Night Live," with host Martin Short and musical guest Paul McCartney (5.1/12 in metered-market households) dominated its time period. "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 2.8 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" delivered 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.

* In metered-market households, "Saturday Night Live" matched its highest rating since October 20 (with a telecast hosted by Bruno Mars). In the Local People Meters, "SNL" generated its highest 18-49 rating since November 3 (with an edition hosted by Louis C.K. with musical guest fun).

Source: Nielsen Media Research