nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, december 1, 2012)

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

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The SEC Championship game spilled into primetime on CBS from 8:00-8:16 pm.]

FOX (5.02 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) topped the demo charts on Saturday with its coverage of the "Big Ten Football Championship: Nebraska vs. Wisconsin" (5.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1).

A silver medal then went to ABC (4.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) with its telecast of "College Football: Texas at Kansas State" (4.81 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3).

Next up was CBS (5.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with its mix of "Made in Jersey" (5.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2), "Criminal Minds" (4.78 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) and "48 Hours" (5.98 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4).

And finally, a rebroadcast of "It's a Wonderful Life" (4.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #6) on NBC (4.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) closed out the night.

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

* An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Daniel Craig and musical guest Muse, averaged a 3.7/9 in metered-market households. "SNL" scored its second-highest rating for an encore in metered-market households since February 25 (3.9 with a telecast hosted by Charlie Day with musical guest Maroon 5), trailing over that span only the October 27 rebroadcast (4.1 with an episode hosted by Jane Lynch with musical guest Bruno Mars). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49.

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/3/11):

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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research