Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (10/1/16):

ABC (9.019 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its weekly coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (9.019 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1).

CBS (3.910 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was a distant second with repeats of "Scorpion" (3.148 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and "48 Hours" (3.706 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.876 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

Next up was NBC (2.361 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) with a marathon of "The Good Place" (1.792 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8), another "The Good Place" (1.829 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8), yet another "The Good Place" (1.957 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8), even more "The Good Place" (2.047 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and a repeat "Saturday Night Live" (3.271 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

And finally, FOX (1.827 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) closed out the evening with "CFB on FOX" (1.827 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5).

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

· The 42nd season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" has delivered a +29% increase on its season-opening result of one year ago to deliver the show's highest rating for a season debut in eight years, according to "live plus same day" viewing figures from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research.

· With a telecast hosted by Margot Robbie and featuring musical guest The Weeknd, as well as appearances by Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump and Larry David as Sen. Bernie Sanders, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 5.8 household rating, 15 share in the metered markets, up +29% from last year's 4.5/11 for the Oct. 3, 2015 season-opening telecast.

· It's the highest metered-market household rating for a "Saturday Night Live" season premiere since Sept. 13, 2008, when the telecast hosted by Michael Phelps and featuring musical guest Lil Wayne as well as an appearance by Tina Fey as Gov. Sarah Palin, averaged a 7.5 rating in the metered markets.

· In the 25 markets with local people meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.7 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, for a +35% increase on the year-ago debut (2.0).

· It's the highest-rated "SNL" season premiere in 18-49 in the local people meters since Sept. 28, 2013 (2.7 with host Tina Fey and musical guest Arcade Fire) and equals the show's top opener since Sept. 15, 2012 (2.8 with host Seth MacFarlane and musical guest Frank Ocean).

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/2/15):

ABC (7.180 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its weekly "Saturday Night College Football" (7.180 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) coverage.

NBC (2.965 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was a distant second with its presentation of "Live from New York!" (2.734 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and the return of "SNL Vintage" (3.428 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.983 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with repeats of "NCIS: New Orleans" (4.021 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) and "Code Black" (3.447 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.481 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3).

And finally, FOX (1.435 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the evening with its "CFB on FOX" (1.435 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7) coverage.

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

· The 41st season premiere of "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Miley Cyrus (4.5/11 in metered-market households, 2.0/10 in adults 18-49 in the local people meters) is up +13% versus the year-ago premiere in metered-market households (4.5 vs. 4.0 on Sept. 27, 2014).

· The "Saturday Night Live" season debut scored the show's highest household rating since Jan. 24 (4.7/12 with host and musical guest Blake Shelton). The 2.0 rating in 18-49 in the local people meters matches the "SNL" high since Jan. 31 (2.1 with host J.K. Simmons and musical guest D'Angelo and The Vanguard).

· Versus the "SNL" season finale on May 16, last night's 4.5 is up +18% in metered-market households (4.5 vs. 3.8) and up +11% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.0 vs. 1.8).

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals last 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).

· National ratings, including viewer totals, for last night's "Saturday Night Live" are due from Nielsen on Thursday, October 8.

Source: Nielsen Media Research