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[08/28/16 - 08:26 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NFL Preseason Wins Again for CBS
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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (8/27/16):

CBS (4.280 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its presentation of "NFL Preseason: Tennessee at Oakland" (4.280 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1).

FOX (2.221 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then was the number two draw with "UFC Fight Night" (2.221 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was ABC (2.449 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with repeats of "Last Man Standing" (2.513 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and "Dr. Ken" (2.115 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) plus a new "Boston EMS" (2.449 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and the season finale of "Boston EMS" (2.585 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, NBC (2.175 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the evening with a repeat "America's Got Talent" (2.832 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3), the return of "Aquarius" (2.096 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and a second "Aquarius" (1.596 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #9).

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

· An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Jonah Hill and musical guest Future, averaged a 2.2 rating, 6 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.

· With its first telecast in four weeks, "Saturday Night Live" equaled its highest 18-49 rating in the metered markets since June 25 (1.0/5 with host Matthew McConaughey and musical guest Adele)

· The Aug. 27 "SNL" equaled the show's August 2015 average in 18-49 in the local people meters (0.9 vs. 0.9 for August 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 seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/29/15):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to significant local NFL pre-season preemptions, all Fast Nationals are inflated.]

CBS (4.721 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) claimed the top spot with its coverage of "NFL Preseason: Seattle at San Diego" (4.721 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1).

NBC (4.151 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then was a close second with a repeat "American Ninja Warrior" (4.800 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1) and the finale of "Hannibal" (2.854 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5).

Next up was ABC (3.280 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) and repeats of "Cars" (3.386 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) and "Last Man Standing" (2.750 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7).

And finally, encores of "Bullseye" (2.975 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5) and "Home Free" (3.144 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) on FOX (3.059 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) closed out the evening.

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

· An encore "Saturday Night Live," with host Taraji P. Henson and musical guest Mumford and Sons, averaged a 2.5 rating, 7 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 0.9/5 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, matching the show's highest metered-market household rating in 10 weeks (since June 20, with host and musical guest Blake Shelton, 2.7/7). Over that span, "SNL" also earned a 2.5 on July 18 (with host Kevin Hart and musical guest Sia).

· It's the third straight week "SNL" has grown in metered-market households (from a 2.2 on Aug. 8 to a 2.3 on Aug. 15 to a 2.4 on Aug. 22 to a 2.5 on Aug. 29).

· Last night's "SNL" was the #1 non-sports program of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters, beating all the night's primetime entertainment programming on those networks in both measures.

· Versus the same night last year, "SNL" was up +9% in 18-49 (2.5 vs. 2.3) and up +13% in 18-49 in the Local People Meters (0.9 vs. 0.8).

· 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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