nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, october 30, 2010)

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

FOX (9.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) narrowly took home top honors on Saturday with its coverage of the "World Series, Game 3" (9.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1).

ABC (6.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) then took home a close second place with its "Saturday Night College Football" (6.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) coverage.

Next up was CBS (5.69 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with a repeat of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (4.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.36 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7) and a second "48 Hours Mystery" (6.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3).

And finally, encores of "Scared Shrekless" (3.83 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5), "Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space" (4.21 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4), "The Office" (2.25 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8), "Community" (1.86 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #10) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8) on NBC (3.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, a new "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.6 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 (10/31/09):

FOX (12.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its coverage of the "World Series, Game 3" (14.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.3, #1). Leading off the night was its "MLB Rain Delay" (8.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) and a repeat of "The Cleveland Show" (7.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3).

The silver then went to ABC (5.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) with its mainstay "Saturday Night College Football" (5.65 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4).

Meanwhile, CBS (5.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) offered up repeats of "CSI: Miami" (4.97 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (5.38 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (6.54 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5).

And finally, primetime coverage of "Notre Dame Football: Washington State vs. Notre Dame" (2.24 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8) on NBC (2.24 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research