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

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (9/5/15):

ABC (7.852 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with the return of "Saturday Night College Football" (7.852 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1).

NBC (3.818 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then claimed the silver with its own coverage of "College Football: Texas-Notre Dame" (3.818 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.069 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (2.731 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5), "48 Hours" (2.708 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) and another "48 Hours" (3.767 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Bullseye" (1.088 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "Home Free" (0.953 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) on FOX (1.020 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening.

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

· An encore "Saturday Night Live," with host Woody Harrelson and musical guest Kendrick Lamar, averaged a 2.3 rating, 6 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.0/5 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, matching the show's highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters in 11 weeks (since June 20, with host and musical guest Blake Shelton, 1.1/6).

· Versus the same night last year, "SNL" was up +11% in 18-49 in the Local People Meters (1.0 vs. 0.9). It's the third week in a row "SNL" has topped the year-ago night in the LPMs.

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals this season growing by an average of +44% going from "live plus same day ratings" to "live plus seven day" in adults 18-49 (from a 1.84 rating to a 2.65).

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/6/14):

NBC (18.030 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.7, #1) was of course the network to beat on Sunday with the return of "Football Night in America #1" (7.569 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6), "Football Night in America #2" (11.946 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #4), "Football Night in America #3" (18.604 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.4, #3) and "Sunday Night Football" (21.224 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.0, #1).

FOX (7.983 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then was a distant second place with its combination of "NFL Overrun" (19.095 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 7.1, #2), "The OT" (10.372 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.1, #5) and the two-hour premiere of "Utopia" (4.609 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8).

Next up was CBS (6.692 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and its lineup of "60 Minutes" (7.913 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10), "Big Brother 16" (7.134 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7), "Unforgettable" (6.993 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #9) and "Reckless" (4.728 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13).

And finally, ABC (2.515 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) closed out the evening with the special "The ABC's of Schoolhouse Rock" (2.122 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15), a new "Wipeout" (2.345 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13), the season finale of "Wipeout" (2.541 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) and a repeat of "Shark Tank" (3.053 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10).

Source: Nielsen Media Research