nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, january 12, 2013)

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

FOX (24.027 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.5, #1) not surprisingly got a big boost on Saturday with its coverage of the "NFC Divisional Game: Green Bay at San Francisco" (24.027 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 8.5, #2).

CBS (14.005 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2) likewise saw big numbers from a primetime overrun by the "NFC Divisional Game: Baltimore at Denver" (30.784 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.1, #1) followed by a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (5.577 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) and a new "48 Hours" (5.654 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5).

Next up was ABC (5.721 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with its specials "20/20: Pageant Confidential: The Road to Miss America" (3.007 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6) and "The 2013 Miss America Competition" (7.078 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3).

And finally, encores of "The Biggest Loser" (1.503 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7) and "Deception" (1.916 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #8) premieres closed out the evening on NBC (1.641 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

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

* An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Christina Applegate and musical guest Passion Pit, averaged a 3.5/8 in metered-market households and a 2.0/7 adults 18-49 in Nielsen's 25 markets with Local People Meters. The 2.0 equals "SNL's" second-highest demo result in the Local People Meters for an encore telecast so far this season, behind only the January 5 rebroadcast that followed a primetime NFL playoff game (2.8/11, with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun).

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/14/12):

Coverage of the "NFL Playoff: Denver at New England" (29.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.6, #1) surged CBS (29.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.6, #1) to the top on Saturday.

A distant silver then went to FOX (8.69 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) with its mix of "NFL Overrun" (25.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 8.9, #2), "Cops" (5.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T3) and a repeat of "Terra Nova" (2.21 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6).

Next up was ABC (5.42 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with an encore of "Winter Wipeout" (2.91 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) followed by "The 2012 Miss America Pageant" (6.68 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T3).

And finally, repeats of "The Firm" (2.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8), another "The Firm" (2.34 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.41 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) on NBC (2.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the night.

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

"Saturday Night Live" (5.2/12 in metered-market households) with host Daniel Radcliffe and musical guest Lana Del Rey, dominated its time period with the highest non-sports rating of the night in metered-market households, ahead of all Saturday primetime entertainment telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox (excludes Fox's 8-8:30 half-hour, which was impacted by an NFL overrun). Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 2 percent in metered-market households (5.2 vs. 5.1).

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 3.0 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49 to rank #1 among the night's entertainment telecasts ahead of all Saturday primetime non-sports programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox (excludes Fox's 8-8:30 half-hour, which was impacted by an NFL overrun). "SNL" matched its second-highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters so far this season, behind only last week's 4.3/18 for an edition hosted by Charles Barkley with musical guest Kelly Clarkson that followed an NFL Wild Card playoff game.

Source: Nielsen Media Research