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[07/31/16 - 08:48 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: "Dateline" Returns on Top for NBC
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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (7/30/16):

NBC (3.362 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with an encore "America's Got Talent" (2.877 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) and the return of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.606 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1).

CBS (2.375 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) then was the number two draw with its mix of "Rush Hour" (2.128 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T9), "48 Hours" (2.234 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and another "48 Hours" (2.763 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

Next up was FOX (1.157 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) and its special "Stride Gum Presents Heaven Sent" (1.442 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T9) followed by a repeat "Wayward Pines" (0.874 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11).

And finally, ABC (1.827 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) closed out the evening with repeats of "Last Man Standing" (2.079 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3), "Dr. Ken" (1.567 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "In an Instant" (1.754 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) plus the return of "Boston EMS" (1.906 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

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

· An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Amy Schumer and musical guest The Weekend, averaged a 2.5 rating, 7 share in household results from the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 0.9/5 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" equaled its highest overnight results since June 25 (2.6/7 in metered-market households, 1.0/5 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Matthew McConaughey and musical guest Adele)

· "Saturday Night Live" ranked as the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, ahead of all primetime programs on those nets in both measures.

· The July 30 "SNL" is up +9% versus the show's July 2015 average in metered-market households (2.5 vs 2.3 for July 2015).

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals this past season growing by +49% going from L+SD to L+7 in adults 18-49 (1.83 to 2.72) and +2.090 million persons in total viewers (6.051 million to 8.141 million).


Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/1/15):

ABC (3.033 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its mix of "Celebrity Family Feud" (2.917 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4), a second "Celebrity Family Feud" (3.319 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) and "Boston EMS" (2.865 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

CBS (3.230 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #2) then claimed the silver with its repeat lineup of "Madam Secretary" (2.313 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11), "48 Hours" (3.530 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and another "48 Hours" (3.847 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was NBC (1.349 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and its trio of "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (1.551 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "Aquarius" (1.449 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Hannibal" (1.047 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7).

And finally, second runs of "Home Free" (1.215 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and another "Home Free" (1.370 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) on FOX (1.292 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the evening.

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

· An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Reese Witherspoon and musical guest Florence + the Machine, averaged a 2.2 rating, 6 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 0.8/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, matching the show's results from the prior week in both measures.

· 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).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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