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[05/22/11 - 11:29 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: "MLB Primetime" Sparks Demo Win for FOX
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, may 21, 2011)

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

FOX (4.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) took home demo honors on Saturday with its coverage of "MLB Primetime" (4.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1).

CBS (5.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) however was the most-watched network with repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (4.39 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9) and "NCIS" (5.85 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was NBC (4.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) with the series finale of "Chase" (3.67 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) alongside repeats of "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.72 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3).

And finally, the feature "Spider-Man 3" (2.80 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) on ABC (2.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) closed out the evening.

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

The 36th season finale of "Saturday Night Live" has scored the highest metered-market household average for an "SNL" season-closer in seven years and equaled the highest in 11 years. Last night's telecast, hosted by Justin Timberlake and featuring musical guest Lady Gaga, generated a 21 percent increase over last year's season finale, marking the fourth year in a row "SNL" has matched or topped the season finale of the prior year.

The May 21 edition of "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 7.0 rating, 17 share in metered-market household averages, highest for an "SNL" season finale since May 15, 2004, when a telecast hosted by the Olsen Twins and featuring musical guest J-Kwon also averaged a 7.0. The last time an "SNL" season-ender scored higher than a 7.0 was on May 20, 2000, when an edition hosted by Jackie Chan and featuring musical guest Kid Rock earned a 7.3 rating in metered-market households. The year-ago finale scored a 5.8/14 in the local markets and for both the two years before that, the season-closer earned a 5.4. The 2007 finale averaged a 4.9.

Last night's "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 telecast of the night in metered-market households ahead of all primetime programming on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.5 rating, 18 share, making it the #1 telecast of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox. Versus the year-ago season finale, "SNL" was up 32 percent in the Local People Meters (4.5 vs. 3.4).


Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/22/10):

Primetime coverage of "Major League Baseball's" (4.54 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) game of the week put FOX (4.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) in front on Saturday.

Second place then went to CBS (5.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) with repeats of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (3.80 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.04 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (6.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1).

Next up was NBC (3.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) with its all-repeat lineup of "Parenthood" (2.06 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #9), "Law & Order" (4.03 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3).

And finally, repeats of the "Lost" (2.55 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5) two-hour pilot and "Castle" (3.16 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5) on ABC (2.75 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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