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 (9/3/16):

ABC (7.528 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) surged to the top spot on Saturday with the return of "Saturday Night College Football" (7.528 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1).

CBS (2.892 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then was a distant second with a special "A Football Life" (1.908 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) followed by repeats of "48 Hours" (3.058 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and another "48 Hours" (3.711 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2).

Next up was FOX (1.394 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with repeats of "Hotel Hell" (1.255 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #7) and another "Hotel Hell" (1.534 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

And finally, an encore "America's Got Talent" (2.277 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3), a new "Aquarius" (1.221 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) and second "Aquarius" (1.177 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) on NBC (1.558 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night.

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

· An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Ariana Grande, averaged a 2.1 rating, 6 share in household results from the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 0.8/5 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" was the night's top-rated non-sports telecast on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the local people meters, topping all primetime entertainment programs on those nets in that key demo

· 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 (9/5/15):

ABC (7.852 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with the return of "Saturday Night College Football" (7.852 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1).

NBC (3.818 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then claimed the silver with its own coverage of "College Football: Texas-Notre Dame" (3.818 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.069 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (2.731 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5), "48 Hours" (2.708 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) and another "48 Hours" (3.767 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Bullseye" (1.088 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "Home Free" (0.953 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) on FOX (1.020 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening.

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

· An encore "Saturday Night Live," with host Woody Harrelson and musical guest Kendrick Lamar, averaged a 2.3 rating, 6 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.0/5 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, matching the show's highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters in 11 weeks (since June 20, with host and musical guest Blake Shelton, 1.1/6).

· Versus the same night last year, "SNL" was up +11% in 18-49 in the Local People Meters (1.0 vs. 0.9). It's the third week in a row "SNL" has topped the year-ago night in the LPMs.

· 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