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 (4/26/14):

FOX (5.182 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) claimed top honors on Saturday with its primetime coverage of "NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing from Richmond" (5.182 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1).

The silver then went to NBC (4.362 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) with its presentation of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (5.173 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and a repeat of "Saturday Night Live" (2.740 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2).

Next up was ABC (3.102 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) and its mix of "Despicable Me" (3.133 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and "Nightline Prime" (3.041 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

And finally, CBS (3.853 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) rounded out the night with repeats of "Two and a Half Men" (2.617 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7), "Bad Teacher" (2.076 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9) and "NCIS" (3.689 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) plus a new "48 Hours" (5.523 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2).

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

·An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Louis C.K. and musical guest Sam Smith, averaged a 2.7/7 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.2/6 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 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in that key measure.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/27/13):

FOX (5.601 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with a full night of "NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing from Richmond" (5.601 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1).

CBS (3.401 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then claimed a distant second place with its mix of "Mayweather" (1.734 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8), "Criminal Minds" (3.588 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and "48 Hours" (4.882 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2).

Next up was ABC (2.264 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) with a new "Bet on Your Baby" (2.547 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and the feature "Over the Hedge" (2.123 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

And finally, NBC (2.108 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) closed out the evening with a new "Smash" (1.888 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8) followed by encores of "The Voice" (2.121 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.316 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3).

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

* An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Justin Timberlake, averaged a 3.4/9 in metered-market households, delivering the #1 non-sports rating of the night, ahead of all Saturday primetime entertainment telecasts on ABC, CBS and NBC. This is "SNL's" highest rating in metered-market households for an encore since March 16 (3.7 for a telecast hosted by Jennifer Lawrence with musical guest The Lumineers). Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 6 percent in metered-market households (3.4 vs. 3.2).

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" rebroadcast averaged a 1.6 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" delivered the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, out-rating all primetime programming on those networks.

Source: Nielsen Media Research