nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, october 23, 2010)

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

FOX (10.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1) was the network to beat with its coverage of the "NLCS, Game 6" (10.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1).

Second place then went to ABC (6.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) with its mainstay "Saturday Night College Football" (6.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2).

Next up was CBS (5.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (4.86 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6) and "Criminal Minds" (5.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T4) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (6.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3).

And finally, a new "Outlaw" (3.26 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8) led into repeats of "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.60 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.97 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T4) on NBC (3.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

And in late-night, a new "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.5 household rating, 11 share in the metered markets.

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/24/09):

ABC (4.41 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) took home top honors on Saturday thanks to its coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (4.41 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

The silver then went to FOX (3.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) with a full night of "Cops" (3.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) in place of its rain delayed ALCS coverage.

Next up was CBS (5.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with a repeat of "Three Rivers" (3.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.04 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) and a second hour of "48 Hours Mystery" (6.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1).

And finally, repeats of "Mercy" (2.49 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8), "Trauma" (3.30 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.65 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) on NBC (3.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research