or


[10/25/20 - 10:13 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: World Series Keeps FOX on Top
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (10/24/20):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live sports.]

FOX (7.247 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) got another boost on Saturday with its coverage of the "World Series, Game 4" (7.247 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1).

ABC (4.438 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) was the silver draw with its telecast of "Saturday Night Football" (4.438 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was NBC (2.070 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #3) with its mix of "Weakest Link" (2.076 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5), "Ellen's Game of Games" (2.053 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (2.081 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

And finally, CBS (2.106 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) served up the relocated "Manhunt: Deadly Games" (1.769 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7), another "Manhunt: Deadly Games" (1.654 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) and "48 Hours" (2.894 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

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

The Oct. 24 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Adele and musical guest H.E.R., has averaged a 5.0 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.4 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

The 5.0 in metered-market households is up +28% versus "SNL's" 3.9 average last October. In 18-49, the local-market 2.4 is up +41% versus the 1.7 average for October 2019.

It's the #1 Big 4 show of the night in metered-market households, ahead of Fox's Game 4 coverage of the World Series (5.0 vs. 4.7). In adults 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" tied the World Series telecast for #1 for the night (2.4 each).

The Oct. 24 "Saturday Night Live" is the #3 highest-rated "SNL" original in metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters among the 21 originals that have aired since Nielsen changed its methodology Oct. 5, 2019, ranking behind only this fall's high-rated Oct. 3 season premiere (5.6 in households, 2.9 in 18-49) and the historic Dec. 21, 2019 telecast hosted by Eddie Murphy with musical guest Lizzo (6.7 in households, 3.4 in 18-49).


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/26/19):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live sports.]

FOX (9.651 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1) pulled into the top spot on Saturday with its coverage of the "World Series, Game 4" (9.651 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1).

ABC (6.415 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) then got bumped to second with its weekly "Saturday Night College Football" (6.415 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2).

Next up was CBS (2.794 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) with repeats of "NCIS: New Orleans" (2.808 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) and "48 Hours" (2.322 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) followed by a new "48 Hours" (3.251 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3).

And finally, NBC (2.107 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) rounded out the evening with its mix of "The Voice" (1.705 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (2.454 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) and "SNL Vintage" (2.161 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

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

· The Oct. 26 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Chance the Rapper, has averaged a 3.8 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.7 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters (with the San Francisco and Sacramento markets currently excluded due to power outages).

· Note that current metered-market results are not compatible with data issued before Oct. 5 due to changes in Nielsen methodology.

· "SNL" retained 100% of the household and 18-49 rating in the metered markets for its prior original (3.8 in households, 1.7 in 18-49 in the local people meters on Oct. 12 with host David Harbour and musical guest Camila Cabello).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [december 2025]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[12/10/25 - 02:59 PM]
FOX NFL Scores Massive Week 14 Viewership
28 million viewers watched FOX Sports' Week 14 "America's Game of the Week," featuring the Green Bay Packers divisional win over the Chicago Bears.

[12/10/25 - 12:08 PM]
NBCU's November to Remember Showcases the Power of Company's Programming
"All Her Fault" became the most-watched original series launch in Peacock history with 46 million hours.

[12/10/25 - 09:54 AM]
ABC Unwraps Holiday Presentations of Fan Favorite Shows
"Dancing with the Holidays" was the top-performing holiday-themed special across the broadcast networks among Adults 18-49 in two years.

[12/09/25 - 04:11 PM]
"College GameDay" Delivers Second Most-Watched Conference Championship Episode Ever; ABC/ESPN Score Second Most-Watched Conference Championship Week Since 2014
The SEC Championship delivered 16.9 million viewers on Saturday, December 6.

[12/09/25 - 02:03 PM]
18.3 Million Viewers Tuned in for Big Ten Championship Game on FOX
Indiana's win peaked with 19,993,000 viewers from 11:00-11:15 PM ET.

[12/08/25 - 11:30 AM]
College Football on The CW Network Sees Double Digit Year-Over-Year Viewership Gains for 2025 Season
ACC football experienced the largest year-over-year growth, up 26% in total audience compared to 2024.

[12/05/25 - 03:31 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers
"Nightline" improved on the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, hitting nine-week highs in both measures.

[12/05/25 - 02:05 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Best College Football Regular Season Since 2011; "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Scores Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks aired the most-watched game in 34 of 42 key Saturday windows, including seven of 14 noon windows, 13 of 14 late afternoon windows and all 14 prime windows.

[12/05/25 - 12:35 PM]
2025 CFB Viewership Surges on FOX & FS1
The 2025 regular season wrapped with big numbers for "Big Noon Saturday," "Big Noon Kickoff" and more - including year-over-year gains across the board.

[12/05/25 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Premiere Week Episodes Post Gains and Lead In Live Plus 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
"Tracker" delivered 17.3 million viewers, up +6% versus its year-ago premiere.

[12/05/25 - 08:45 AM]
ESPN Delivered Most-Watched Women's College Volleyball Season on Record
Said coverage averaged 190,000 viewers, up 36% from the 2024 season.

[12/04/25 - 04:19 PM]
"College GameDay Built By The Home Depot" Delivers Second-Best Regular Season Episode Ever; ESPN Scores Best Rivalry Week Since 2012
The Lone Star Showdown drew over 13 million viewers, peaking with 14.3 million viewers.

[12/04/25 - 03:45 PM]
"Big Noon Kickoff" Scores 4.36 Million Viewers on FOX
The 2025 season was "Big Noon Kickoff's" most-watched season in history.

[12/04/25 - 02:41 PM]
18.4M Viewers Tuned in for Ohio State-Michigan on FOX
Ohio State's win over Michigan scored 18,424,000 viewers on FOX.

[12/04/25 - 02:28 PM]
Record Audience Watches Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix on ESPN2
The November 30 telecast earned an average audience of 1.4 million viewers, the largest audience ever to watch the event on U.S. television.