nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, september 24, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (6.37 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1) was still the network to beat on Saturday with its coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (6.37 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1).

The silver then went to CBS (4.62 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) with encores of "Person of Interest" (3.94 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5), "Unforgettable" (4.95 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) and the season premiere of "48 Hours Mystery" (4.97 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2).

Next up was FOX (2.41 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with a new "Cops" (2.89 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5) followed by repeats of "Cops" (3.30 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3), "American Dad" (1.70 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T9) and "The Cleveland Show" (1.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (3.99 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11), "Prime Suspect" (4.82 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T9) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.72 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7) on NBC (4.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

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

"Saturday Night Live" (5.0/13 in metered-market households), hosted by Alec Baldwin with musical guest Radiohead, dominated its time period, delivering the #1 rating of the night ahead of all primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.6 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night ahead of all primetime programs on CBS, NBC or Fox.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/25/10):

Coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (4.66 million viewers, #T4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) kept ABC (4.66 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) in front on Saturday.

Settling for second then was FOX (4.53 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) with its mainstays "Cops" (4.41 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.66 million viewers, #T4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2).

Next up was CBS (5.98 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (6.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) and "Blue Bloods" (5.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) followed by the season premiere of "48 Hours Mystery" (5.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4).

And finally, repeats of "The Event" (3.11 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #9), "Chase" (4.20 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.63 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) on NBC (3.98 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, the 36th season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 5.3 household rating, 13 share in the metered markets.

Source: Nielsen Media Research