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 (2/13/16):

CBS (9.315 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with a special "48 Hours" (4.710 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) followed by "Campaign 2016: Republican Debate" (11.618 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1).

FOX (4.438 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then claimed the silver with its presentation of "NASCAR Sprint Unlimited at Daytona" (4.438 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2).

Next up was NBC (4.000 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (4.571 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.859 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

And finally, repeats of "Scandal" (1.399 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7), "How to Get Away with Murder" (1.080 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) and a new "20/20" (2.576 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) on ABC (1.685 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night.

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

· The Feb. 13 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Melissa McCarthy and musical guest Kanye West, averaged a 4.4 rating, 11 share in household results from the 56 markets metered-by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.3/11 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Versus the show's one original telecast in February of last year, "SNL" grew by +16% in metered-market households (4.4 vs. 3.8 on Feb. 28, 2015) and by +21% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.3 vs. 1.9).

· "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 non-news telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating all primetime entertainment programming on those networks in both categories.

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals growing by 48% going from L+SD to L+7 in national adult 18-49 rating (1.97 to 2.92) and +2.235 million persons in total viewers (6.458 million to 8.693 million).

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/14/15):

NBC (5.413 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) was the top draw on Saturday with its pairing of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (5.563 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) and "An SNL Valentine" (5.115 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1).

FOX (4.664 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) then split the demo crown with its coverage of "NASCAR at Daytona Beach" (4.664 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2).

Next up was CBS (4.637 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (4.739 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6), "Criminal Minds" (3.667 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7) and a new "48 Hours" (5.507 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) .

And finally, the feature "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2.366 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) on ABC (2.366 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) closed out the evening.

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

·An encore telecast of the Oct. 11, 1975 series premiere of "Saturday Night Live," with host George Carlin and musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston, averaged a 3.8 rating, 10 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.6/7 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters,

·In metered-market households, it's the top-rated "SNL" encore since Jan. 11, 2014 (with host Jimmy Fallon and musical guest Justin Timberlake, 3.8/9) and equaled the top "SNL" rebroadcast since Jan. 5, 2013 (with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun on the night of an NFL overrun, 4.6/12).

·"SNL" is the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in that key measure. In metered-market households, "SNL" tied NBC's two primetime telecasts, "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" and "An SNL Valentine" as the night's #1 Big 4 telecast (3.8 each).

Source: Nielsen Media Research