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

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (5/2/15):

CBS (4.724 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) was the most-watched network on Saturday with its mix of "NCIS" (4.402 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (4.688 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4) and a new "48 Hours" (5.083 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1).

ABC (2.372 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) then shared in the top demo honors with the feautre "Shrek the Third" (2.283 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) and a repeat "Shark Tank" (2.551 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was NBC (2.162 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its primetime coverage of the "World Golf Championships" (2.162 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6).

And finally, repeats of "Hell's Kitchen" (1.184 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "Bones" (1.308 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) on FOX (1.246 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening.

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

· "Saturday Night Live," with host Scarlett Johansson and musical guest Wiz Khalifa (3.4 rating, 9 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets, 1.6/7 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters) ranked as the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in both measures. In the Local People Meters, "SNL" beat the 18-49 rating of the top primetime telecast on those networks by +167% (1.6 vs. 0.6 for CBS's "48 Hours").

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals this season growing by an average of +43% going from "live plus same day ratings" to "live plus seven day" in national adult 18-49 rating (from a 1.91 rating to a 2.74).

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/3/14):

NBC (4.512 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the top draw on Saturday thanks to a two-hour "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (5.408 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) and a repeat of "Saturday Night Live" (2.721 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1).

ABC (2.407 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then claimed the silver with the feature "Transformers" (2.407 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4).

Next up was CBS (3.067 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) and repeats of "2 Broke Girls" (2.003 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5), "Friend with Better Lives" (1.817 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "The Mentalist" (2.297 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.994 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1).

And finally, FOX (0.873 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening with its mix of "The Simpsons" (1.117 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5), "24: Live Another Day - Jack Is Back" (1.054 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "The Following" (0.660 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #10).

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

·"Saturday Night Live," with host Andrew Garfield and musical guest Coldplay, averaged a 3.9/10 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 2.0/9 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 metered market households and adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in both measures. With its first original in three weeks, "SNL" retained 100% of its prior rating in metered market households (3.9/10 on April 12 with host Seth Rogen and musical guest Ed Sheeran).

Source: Nielsen Media Research