nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, december 3, 2011)

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

FOX (7.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1) tipped the ratings scales on Saturday with its coverage of "College Football: Big Ten Championship Game" (7.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1).

ABC (5.78 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) then had to settle for second place with the season finale of "Saturday Night College Football" (5.78 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3).

Next up was CBS (4.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with encores of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.26 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2), "How I Met Your Mother" (4.02 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4) and "48 Hours Mystery" (4.02 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4).

And finally, the annual rebroadcast of "It's a Wonderful Life" (4.46 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) on NBC (4.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) closed out the night.

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

"Saturday Night Live," with host Steve Buscemi and musical guest The Black Keys (4.8/11 in metered-market households) dominated its time period, delivering the #1 rating of the night in metered-market households ahead of all primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. "SNL" delivered its highest metered-market household rating since November 5 (with host Charlie Day and musical guest Maroon 5).

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.7 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime programming on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/4/10):

The season finale of "Saturday Night College Football" (8.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) had no trouble putting ABC (8.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) on top last night.

FOX (4.87 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then took home the silver with its usual mix of "Cops" (4.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T2) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.96 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T2).

Next up was CBS (4.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with the feature "Evan Almighty" (4.58 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T4).

And finally, repeats of "Chase" (3.35 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7), "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.61 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #6) on NBC (4.04 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, a new "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 5.0 household rating, 12 share in the metered markets.

Source: Nielsen Media Research