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[05/10/15 - 09:07 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBA Playoffs Put ABC on Top
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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 (5/9/15):

ABC (3.974 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday thanks to its "NBA Countdown" (3.096 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) and coverage of "NBA Playoffs: Golden State at Memphis" (4.150 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

CBS (4.227 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then claimed the silver with repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (3.576 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) and "Criminal Minds" (3.658 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) plus a new "48 Hours" (5.448 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3).

Next up was NBC (2.098 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) with encores of "The Voice" (1.951 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.394 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

And finally, FOX (1.335 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) closed out the evening with second runs of "Hell's Kitchen" (1.002 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Bones" (1.668 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7).

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

· "Saturday Night Live," with host Reese Witherspoon and musical guest Florence + the Machine (3.7 rating, 10 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets, 2.0/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters) matched the show's highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters since Jan. 31 (2.1/10 with host J.K. Simmons and musical guest D'Angelo and The Vanguard), equaling over that span the April 4 telecast (with host Michael Keaton and musical guest Carly Rae Jepsen, 2.0/9) and the March 7 edition (2.0/10 with host Chris Hemsworth and musical guest Zac Brown Band). In metered-market households, it's the top "SNL" since April 11 (3.8/10 with host Taraji P. Henson and musical guest Mumford & Sons).

· This week's "SNL" is the #1 non-sports 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 entertainment programs on those networks in both measures.

· Versus the same night last year, "Saturday Night Live" is virtually matching the year-ago telecast in metered-market households (3.7/10 vss. 3.8/10 on May 10, 2014) and is up +11% in 18-49 in the Local People Meters (2.0/9 vs. 1.8/8).

· 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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/10/14):

ABC (4.691 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its coverage of "NBA Countdown" (3.263 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) and "NBA Playoffs: Miami at Brooklyn" (4.976 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1).

FOX (5.151 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then was the most-watched network behind "NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing" (5.151 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was NBC (3.567 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) with a two-hour "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.912 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) alongside a repeat of "Saturday Night Live" (2.876 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5).

And finally, CBS (3.237 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the evening with repeats of "Mike & Molly" (2.290 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8), "The Millers" (2.138 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8), "48 Hours" (2.522 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7) and a new "48 Hours" (4.975 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4).

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

·"Saturday Night Live," with host Charlize Theron and musical guest The Black Keys, averaged a 3.8/10 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.8/8 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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