nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, march 16, 2013)

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

ABC (3.800 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) took home top demo honors on Saturday with rebroadcasts of "Celebrity Wife Swap" (2.443 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7) and "20/20: The Camera Never Lies" (4.479 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2).

CBS (3.953 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) then was the most-watched network with repeats of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2.725 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8) and "Criminal Minds" (4.252 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #6) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.883 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3).

Next up was FOX (2.394 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) with a new "Cops" (3.205 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) followed by repeats of "Cops" (3.324 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) and "The Following" (1.524 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9).

And finally, NBC (2.129 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night with its mix of "American Ninja Warrior" (1.771 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9), "Chicago Fire" (1.435 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) and a primetime "Saturday Night Live" (3.182 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1).

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

* An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Jennifer Lawrence and musical guest The Lumineers, averaged a 3.7/9 in metered-market households, equaling the show's top overnights with a rebroadcast since January 5 (with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun on the night of a primetime NFL playoff game). Over that span, a 3.7 was also achieved by a February 2 rebroadcast (with host Jeremy Renner and musical guest Maroon 5). Last night's "SNL" encore scored the #1 rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in metered-market households, topping all primetime telecasts on those networks.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.8 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, the show's highest result in the LPMs with an encore since January 12 (with host Christina Applegate and musical guest Passion Pit, 2.0). "SNL" delivered the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters. In the 25 LPM markets, "SNL" delivered the #1 and #2 ratings of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, with the 11:30 regular edition (1.8) and the 10 p.m. primetime encore (1.2).

* Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 9 percent in metered-market households (with a 3.7 rating vs. a 3.4) and up 6 percent in 18-49 rating in the 25 Local People Meter markets (1.8 vs. 1.7).

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/17/12):

CBS (6.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1) was of course the network to beat on Saturday with its coverage of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kentucky vs. Iowa St." (6.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) followed by the "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Update" (5.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (4.25 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3).

ABC (4.11 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then had to settle for second place with a repeat of "Shark Tank" (3.13 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) alongsie a two-hour "20/20: My Extreme Affliction" (4.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4).

Next up was NBC (2.58 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with encores of "Harry's Law" (3.77 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), "Fashion Star" (1.87 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (2.23 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

And finally, FOX (1.36 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) with out of the hunt with another two-hour "Q'Viva! The Chosen" (1.36 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7).

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live" (3.4/9 in metered-market households) with host Charles Barkley and musical guest Kelly Clarkson, dominated its time period.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, to rank as the night's #1 non-sports telecast ahead of all primetime entertainment programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox (and tied for #1 overall for the night with CBS's 8-10 p.m. overrun NCAA basketball coverage).

Source: Nielsen Media Research