nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, january 15, 2011)

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

FOX (27.33 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.9, #1) eclipsed the competiton on Saturday with its coverage of the "NFL Playoff: Green Bay at Atlanta" (27.33 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.9, #1).

CBS (6.64 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then scooped up the leftovers with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (12.46 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "NCIS" (6.88 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4), "The Defenders" (5.12 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.13 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6).

Next up was ABC (5.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with an encore of "Wipeout" (3.69 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5) followed by "The Miss America Pageant" (6.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Chuck" (1.30 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #10), "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (2.32 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #9) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.73 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #8) on NBC (2.45 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, a new Gwyneth Paltrow -hosted "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 5.1 household rating, 12 share in the metered markets, including a 3.1 rating among adults 18-49.

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/16/10):

Coverage of the "NFL Playoff: Baltimore at Indianapolis" (26.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.5, #1) not surprisingly powered CBS (26.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.5, #1) to victory on Sunday.

Second place then went to FOX (6.95 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) with a full hour of "Cops" (7.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) and a new "America's Most Wanted" (6.09 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3).

Next up was NBC (3.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with its mix of "Mercy" (2.03 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), "Law & Order" (3.99 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4).

And finally, repeats of "Grey's Anatomy" (1.94 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8), "Private Practice" (2.02 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7) and "Castle" (3.01 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) on ABC (2.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research