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 (10/17/15):

"Saturday Night College Football" (5.716 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) put ABC (5.716 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) into the top spot on Saturday.

NBC (3.183 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then claimed the silver with its coverage of "College Football: USC @ Notre Dame" (3.183 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

Next up was CBS (3.975 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with repeats of "NCIS" (4.147 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4) and "Code Black" (3.063 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.715 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

And finally, repeats of "Grandfathered" (1.647 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #6), "The Grinder" (1.272 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Rosewood" (1.465 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) on FOX (1.462 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening.

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

· Delayed by a primetime football overrun, "Saturday Night Live," with host Tracy Morgan and musical guest Demi Lovato (4.2/11 in metered-market households, 2.0/10 in adults 18-49 in the local people meters from 11:45 p.m.-1:15 a.m. ET) ranked as the night's #1 telecast on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, topping all primetime programs on those nets.

· In 18-49 in the local people meters, "Saturday Night Live" matched the show's highest rating since Jan. 31 (2.1 with host J.K. Simmons and musical guest D'Angelo and The Vanguard)

· The Oct. 10 "Saturday Night" grew +8% versus "SNL's" year-ago October average in metered-market households (4.2 vs. 3.9 on Oct. 4, 11 and 25, 2014) and equaled the October 2014 average in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.0 vs. 2.0). On the same night last year, "SNL" was in rebroadcast.

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals last 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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/18/14):

ABC (12.034 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) rocketed to the top spot on Saturday with its coverage of "Saturday Night Football: Notre Dame at Florida State" (12.034 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1).

CBS (3.853 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then claimed a distant second place with repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (3.233 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.761 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.566 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was NBC (2.425 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) and its encore lineup of "The Mysteries of Laura" (2.385 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.267 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.622 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Gracepoint" (1.345 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) and another "Gracepoint" (1.338 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #9) on FOX (1.341 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) closed out the evening.

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

·An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Chris Pratt and musical guest Ariana Grande, averaged a 2.7/7 in metered-market households and a 1.1/5 in adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

·The 2.7 is the show's top rating for a rebroadcast since April 26 (with host Louis C.K. and musical guest Sam Smith, 2.7/7)

·The "Saturday Night Live" rebroadcast ranked as the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adult 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters, outscoring all primetime entertainment programs on those networks in the 18-49 demo.

Source: Nielsen Media Research