nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, february 23, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (3.100 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) and FOX (2.607 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) split the demo crown on a low-key Saturday as the latter served up its mix of a new "Cops" (3.447 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T1) and repeats of "Cops" (3.516 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T1) and "The Following" (1.733 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9).

The Alphabet then offered up a rebroadcast of the feature "Dreamgirls" (3.100 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

Next up was CBS (4.386 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its combination of "NCIS" (5.053 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3), "48 Hours" (5.097 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) and the special "Vanity Fair's Hollywood" (3.007 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7).

And finally, NBC (2.084 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the evening with its lineup of "American Ninja Warrior" (1.946 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8), "Chicago Fire" (1.923 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) and a primetime "Saturday Night Live" (2.383 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

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

* An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Martin Short and musical guest Paul McCartney, averaged a 3.1/8 in metered-market households. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" delivered a 1.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" delivered the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime programming on those networks in 18-49.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/25/12):

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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research