nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, february 12, 2011)

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

Coverage of the "NASCAR: Bud Shootout" (6.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1) put FOX (6.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1) over the top on Saturday.

CBS (5.01 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) then took home the silver with its mix of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (4.59 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T7), "CSI: Miami" (5.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.25 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4).

Next up was ABC (3.16 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) with encores of "Wipeout" (4.11 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T2) and the feature "Hairspray" (2.68 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T7).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (3.62 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (4.57 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #6) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T2) on NBC (4.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) rounded out the evening.

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

"Saturday Night Live" (5.0/12 in metered-market households) hosted by Russell Brand with musical guest Chris Brown, dominated its time period with the #1 rating of the night ahead of all primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 3.0 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 non-sports telecast of the night, ahead of all primetime entertainment programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/13/10):

Night two of the "Winter Olympics 2010" (26.86 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.9, #1) kept NBC (26.86 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.9, #1) at rocket speed on Saturday.

Left in the dust then was FOX (4.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) with its usual mix of "Cops" (5.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3), another "Cops" (5.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) and "America's Most Wanted" (5.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4).

Next up was CBS (3.59 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with a repeat of "The Wedding Crashers" (2.95 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (4.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5).

And finally, an encore of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2.33 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7) on ABC (2.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research