nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, february 25, 2012)

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

FOX (3.25 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) edged out the competition on Saturday with the winter finale of "Cops" (4.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) followed by an encore of "The Finder" (2.44 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5).

Second place then went to ABC (3.23 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) with repeats of "Winter Wipeout" (2.70 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) and the feautre "The Devil Wears Prada" (3.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2).

Next up was CBS (4.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with its mix of "Rules of Engagement" (2.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8), "Two and a Half Men" (3.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5), "The Mentalist" (4.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5) and "48 Hours Mystery" (4.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2).

And finally, NBC (2.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the night with an encore of "Smash" (1.94 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10), a new "The Firm" (2.37 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10) and a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8).

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live" (3.9/10 in metered-market households) with host Charlie Day and musical guest Maroon 5, equaled the show's highest rating for an encore in more than a year, since January 22, 2011, with host Robert De Niro and musical guest Diddy Dirty Money (4.0/10). Last night's 3.9 was last matched by an "SNL" encore on January 21, 2012 with host Emma Stone and musical guest Coldplay (3.9/10). This week's "SNL" dominated its time period and was the #1 broadcast of the night ahead of all Saturday primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.3 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49, scoring the show's highest LPM rating for an encore in the past year (since the February 26, 2011 rebroadcast hosted by Anne Hathaway with musical guest Florence + The Machine).

The last time an "SNL" encore topped last night's 2.3 in the Local People Meters was three years ago (February 28, 2009 with host Neil Patrick Harris and musical guest Taylor Swift, 2.5). In the Local People Meters, "SNL" ranked #1 among the night's broadcasts, ahead of all Saturday primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/26/11):

FOX (5.86 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) mainstays "Cops" (5.73 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) and "America's Most Wanted" (5.98 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) cruised to top honors on Saturday.

ABC (3.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and CBS (4.12 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) then shared the silver as the former offered up the feature "The Pursuit of Happyness" (3.72 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4).

The Eye then went with its mix of "The Amazing Race" (2.51 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7), "Hawaii Five-0" (4.44 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (4.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8), "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.62 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #9) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.51 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #6) on NBC (4.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) rounded out the evening.

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live" (3.9/10 in metered-market households) hosted by Anne Hathaway with musical guest Florence and the Machine, dominated its time period. "SNL" was the #1 telecast of the night in metered-market households ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.3 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night, ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Source: Nielsen Media Research