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[05/01/16 - 08:37 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC Tops Demos with NHL Playoffs
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 eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (4/30/16):

NBC (2.470 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) took home the demo crown on Saturday thanks to its coverage of the "NHL Playoffs: Pittsburgh at Washington" (2.470 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

CBS (4.866 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "NCIS" (4.573 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4), "NCIS: New Orleans" (4.847 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and a new "48 Hours" (5.179 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was ABC (2.022 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and its trio of "Jazz at the White House" (2.340 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8), a repeat of "Marvel's Captain America: 75 Heroic Years" (1.417 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "20/20 Saturday" (2.310 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4).

And finally, FOX (1.515 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) closed out the evening with its presentation of "PBC on FOX" (1.515 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7).

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

· The April 30 encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Peter Dinklage and musical guest Gwen Stefani, delayed by a Stanley Cup Playoff Hockey overrun, averaged a 2.6 rating, 7 share from 11:45 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. in household results from the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.2/6 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the local people meters, ahead of all primetime entertainment programs on those nets.

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals growing by +50% going from L+SD to L+7 in adults 18-49 (1.89 to 2.84) and +2.203 million persons in total viewers (6.255 million to 8.458 million).


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (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).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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