NBC was the No. 1 broadcast network Friday in adults 18 to 49 with help from the top-rated program of the night, the 9 p.m. (ET) newsmagazine “Dateline: To Catch a Predator.”

“Dateline” scored a 3.2 preliminary national rating in adults 18 to 49, a number that includes live viewing plus same-day viewing via digital video recorders, according to Nielsen Media Research. Its performance outpaced that of CBS drama “Close to Home” (2.6), ABC’s drama “Men in Trees” (2.1), the second hour of The CW’s wrestling show “Friday Night Smackdown!” and the finale of Fox’s “Celebrity Duets” (1.4).

At 8 p.m. CBS was the top broadcaster with its drama “Ghost Whisperer” (2.9), eclipsing NBC’s game show “Deal or No Deal” (2.7), a repeat of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” (1.9), the first half of “Smackdown!” (1.3) and a repeat of Fox’s “Justice” (1.0).

At 10 p.m. NBC was on top again with “Law & Order” (3.1), edging out CBS’s “Numb3rs” (3.0) and ABC’s “20/20” (2.6).