Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/20/14):

CBS (7.591 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) took home top honors on Saturday with its special edition of "Thursday Night Football" (7.591 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1).

ABC (3.044 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was a distant second place with encores of "I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown" (2.938 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) and "CMA Country Christmas" (3.097 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was NBC (1.680 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and a rebroadcast of last year's "The Sound of Music Live!" (1.680 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4).

And finally, repeats of "Bones" (2.061 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) and "Sleepy Hollow" (1.294 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) on FOX (1.678 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the evening.

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

·"Saturday Night Live," with host Amy Adams and musical guest One Direction, delivered a 4.0 rating, 10 share in household results in the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters.

·"Saturday Night Live" was the #1 Big 4 non-sports telecast of the night in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime entertainment programs on those networks in both measures.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/21/13):

NBC (2.575 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) lead the repeat wars on Saturday with its encore lineup of "The Sing-Off" (2.289 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and "Saturday Night Live" (3.147 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1).

CBS (3.828 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) then was the most-watched network with its second run lineup of "Two and a Half Men" (3.023 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7), another "Two and a Half Men" (3.607 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4), "Hawaii Five-0" (3.528 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and "48 Hours" (4.640 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3).

Next up was ABC (3.204 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) with rebroadcasts of "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" (3.545 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2), "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" (2.677 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and "Castle" (3.392 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7).

And finally, repeats of "Almost Human" (1.928 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10) and "Bones" (1.665 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T10) on FOX (1.796 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the evening.

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

·"Saturday Night Live," with host Jimmy Fallon and musical guest Justin Timberlake, averaged a 6.3/16 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 3.9/18 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, making it the top-rated "SNL" in both categories in nearly two years, since the Jan. 7. 2012 edition hosted by Charles Barkley with musical guest Kelly Clarkson (7.0/18 in metered-market households, 4.1 rating in 18-49 in the Local People Meters), which benefited from a primetime NFL overrun.

·Excluding nights of NFL overruns, it's the top "Saturday Night Live" in both categories since the season finale on May 21, 2011, hosted by Justin Timberlake and featuring musical guest Lady Gaga (7.0/17 in metered-market households, 4.5 rating in 18-49 in the Local People Meters).

·It's the top-rated "Saturday Night Live" Christmas edition in nine years in metered-market households, since the Dec. 18, 2004 telecast hosted by Robert De Niro with musical guest Destiny's Child (6.6/16) and the top Christmas show in the Local People Meters in the six years NBC has tracked that measure (excludes primetime Christmas specials).

·Last night's results top prior Christmas editions hosted by both Jimmy Fallon (Dec. 17, 2011, 5.3/13 in metered-market households, 3.0 rating in 18-49 in the Local People Meters) and Justin Timberlake (Dec. 16, 2006, 5.5/13 in metered-market households).

·The Dec. 21 "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 telecast of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in both metered-market households and 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime programming on those networks in both categories.

Source: Nielsen Media Research