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

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

ABC (7.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) was back in front on Saturday with its "Saturday Night College Football" (7.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) franchise.

FOX (4.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then claimed a silver with a full hour of "Cops" (4.48 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) and the network premiere of "UFC on FOX" (4.62 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2).

Next up was CBS (5.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with its mix of "CBS News Special: A South Carolina Republican Debate" (5.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5), a repeat of "NCIS" (5.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.49 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4).

And finally, primetime coverage of "College Football: Maryland at Notre Dame" (2.01 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7) on NBC (2.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night.

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

"Saturday Night Live," hosted by Emma Stone with musical guest Coldplay, averaged a 4.5/11 in metered-market households.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.7 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, up 8 percent versus "SNL's" 2.5 on the same night last year. "Saturday Night Live" was down just a tenth of a point from last week's season-high 2.8 to tie as the second highest rated "SNL" in the Local People Meters since the "SNL" season finale on May 21, 2011.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/13/10):

Mainstays "Cops" (4.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.19 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2) proved to be enough to keep FOX (4.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) in front on Saturday.

ABC (4.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then claimed the silver with its "Saturday Night College Football" (4.11 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) coverage.

Next up was CBS (5.25 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with repeats of "The Mentalist" (4.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6) and "Hawaii Five-0" (5.24 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2).

And finally, the series finale of "Outlaw" (3.39 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8) led into repeats of "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.21 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) on NBC (3.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

And in late-night, a new "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.7 household rating, 12 share in the metered markets.

Source: Nielsen Media Research