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[01/05/14 - 09:04 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: Over 30 Million Tune Into NBC's NFL Wild Card Coverage
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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (1/4/14):

NBC (30.093 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.8, #1) overshadowed the competition on Saturday with its primetime coverage of the "NFC Wild Card Game: New Orleans at Philadelphia" (30.093 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.8, #1).

ABC (2.541 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was king of the leftovers with encores of "Over the Hedge" (2.666 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) and "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" (2.291 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4).

Next up was CBS (3.031 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with repeats of "How I Met Your Mother" (1.571 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8), "The Crazy Ones" (1.655 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "NCIS: Los Angeles" (2.734 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) followed by a new "48 Hours" (4.748 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2).

And finally, FOX (1.664 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the night with second runs of "Almost Human" (1.700 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Bones" (1.629 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

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

· "SNL Best of This Season" averaged a 5.6/14 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 3.0/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters from midnight to 1:30 a.m. ET, making it the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on ABC, CBS and Fox in 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime entertainment programming on those networks. "SNL Best of This Season" was delayed by the overrun of NBC's primetime NFL Wild Card playoff coverage.

· These are the second-highest "SNL" results of the season to date, behind only the Dec. 21 edition hosted by Jimmy Fallon with musical guest Justin Timberlake (6.4/16 in metered-market households, 3.9/18 in the Local People Meters).

· Versus an encore telecast on the same night last year, "SNL Best of This Season" is up 24% in metered-market households (5.6/14 vs. 4.5/11) and up 25% in 18-49 in the Local People Meters (3.0/.12 vs. 2.4/11).


Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/5/13):

Coverage of "NFC Wild Card Game: Minnesota at Green Bay" (26.047 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1) sparked a big night for NBC (26.047 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1) on Saturday.

CBS (4.764 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then claimed the leftovers with its mix of "The Mentalist" (3.811 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), "48 Hours" (4.594 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) and a new "48 Hours" (5.889 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was FOX (2.429 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) with a new "Cops" (2.635 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4), a repeat of "Cops" (2.866 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) and the penultimate "The Mob Doctor" (2.107 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

And finally, ABC (1.932 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the evening with repeats of "Once Upon a Time" (1.990 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), another "Once Upon a Time" (1.890 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and a third "Once Upon a Time" (1.919 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" (5.3 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun, dominated its time period with the highest "SNL" average for an encore in four years, since the October 11, 2008 rebroadcast hosted by Michael Phelps with musical guest Lil Wayne (5.5/13).

* Note that NBC carried the highly rated Vikings-Packers NFL Wild Card Playoff Game in primetime.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.8 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, its highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters for an encore in four years, since November 8, 2008 (with host James Franco and musical guest Kings of Leon, 2.9/18).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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