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 (3/1/14):

NBC (2.869 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) was the top demo draw on Saturday with its coverage of "NHL Regular Season: Penguins at Blackhawks" (2.869 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

Sharing the adults 18-49 crown as ABC (2.332 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) with the feature "The Social Network" (2.450 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) followed by a repeat of "The Goldbergs" (1.747 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

Next up was CBS (3.851 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with second runs of "Two and a Half Men" (3.340 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4), "The Crazy Ones" (2.245 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "Person of Interest" (3.350 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) plus a new "48 Hours" (5.412 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

And finally, encores of "Almost Human" (1.735 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "The Following" (1.171 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #9) on FOX (1.453 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the night.

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

·From 11:45 p.m.-1:15 a.m. ET, "Saturday Night Live," with host Jim Parsons and musical guest Back, averaged a 4.6/12 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 2.6/11 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, making it the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters. Note that last night's "SNL" was delayed by a primetime hockey overrun.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/2/13):

FOX (2.777 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) topped a tight demo race on Saturday with its mix of "Cops" (3.466 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2), "Cops" (3.670 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) and "The Following" (1.987 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6).

The silver then went to CBS (4.499 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) with repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (3.599 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10), "Golden Boy" (4.090 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6) and "48 Hours" (5.808 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2).

Next up was ABC (2.664 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) with a rebroadcast of "Once Upon a Time" (1.815 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10) and a special two-hour "20/20" (3.088 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

And finally, NBC (1.952 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) closed out the evening with its lineup of "American Ninja Warrior" (1.911 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6), "Chicago Fire" (1.899 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6) and a primetime "Saturday Night Live" (2.048 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

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

* "Saturday Night Live," with host Kevin Hart and musical guest Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, averaged a 4.8/12 in metered-market households. "SNL" scored the #1 rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in metered-market households, topping all primetime telecasts on those networks.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.8 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" delivered the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, more than doubling all primetime programming on those networks.

* In the Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" scored its highest 18-49 rating since January 26 (2.8 with a telecast hosted by Adam Levine with musical guest Kendrick Lamar) and matched the show's highest Local People Meter rating since November 3 (with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun, 3.0).

Source: Nielsen Media Research