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[03/19/12 - 06:06 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NCAA Coverage Makes It Easy for CBS
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, march 17, 2012)

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

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).

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]


Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/19/11):

FOX (4.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) held onto the top spot on Saturday with its usual mix of "Cops" (4.53 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.84 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1).

CBS (4.27 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then took home the silver with its primetime coverage of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship" (4.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) followed by "48 Hours Mystery" (4.17 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4).

Next up was ABC (3.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with encores of "Wipeout" (3.28 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #7) and the feature "Norbit" (3.15 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (3.96 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #9), "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (4.25 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6) on NBC (4.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live" (3.5/8 in metered-market households), hosted by Jeff Bridges with musical guests Eminem and Lil Wayne, dominated its time period.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.8 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night, outscoring all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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