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 (8/16/14):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to significant local NFL pre-season preemptions, all Fast Nationals are inflated.]

NBC (4.738 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its pairing of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (5.081 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.053 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4).

ABC (3.406 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1) then shared the demo crown with the feature "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (3.406 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2).

Next up was CBS (4.309 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with repeats of "48 Hours" (4.028 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (3.900 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) and another "48 Hours" (4.998 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2).

And finally, FOX (1.061 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening with repeats of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (1.195 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7), another "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (1.133 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) and "Glee" (0.957 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #9).

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

·An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Anna Kendrick and musical guest Pharrell, averaged a 2.5/7 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.1/6 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, to rank as the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

·The 2.5 in metered-market households matches "Saturday Night Live's" top rating since May 31 (2.6, with host Charlize Theron and musical guest The Black Keys), tying over that span the July 12 telecast (2.5, with host Kerry Washington and musical guest Eminem). In the Local People Meters, last night's 1.1 is the highest in 18-49 since May 31 (1.2).

·Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up +14% in metered-market households (to a 2.5 rating from a 2.2) and up +22% in 18-49 in the Local People Meters (1.1 vs. 0.9).

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/17/13):

FOX (3.061 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) pulled back into the top spot on Saturday with its repeat mix of "Cops" (3.107 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3), another "Cops" (3.515 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) and "Bones" (2.812 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5).

CBS (4.036 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) then was the most-watched network with its second run lineup of "The Mentalist" (3.174 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9), "48 Hours" (3.942 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5) and "48 Hours" (4.992 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2).

Next up was ABC (3.328 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) with a repeat of "The Middle" (2.697 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) followed by the feature "Mamma Mia!" (3.454 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

And finally, coverage of "USA Gymnastics: 2013 P&G Championships" (2.668 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5) and a new "Do No Harm" (1.888 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) on NBC (2.408 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) rounded out the night.

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

·An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Martin Short and musical guest Paul McCartney, averaged a 2.2/6 in metered-market households. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 0.9 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" posted 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