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

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/3/16):

FOX (8.334 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its coverage of "CFB on FOX" (8.334 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1).

ABC (5.323 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then took home the silver with its own "Saturday Night College Football" (5.323 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) presentation.

Next up was NBC (3.742 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with its annual telecast of "It's a Wonderful Life" (3.742 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

And finally, repeats of "NCIS: New Orleans" (4.844 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) and "Criminal Minds" (3.801 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.263 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) closed out the evening on CBS (4.303 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

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

· The Dec. 3 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Emma Stone and musical guest Shawn Mendes, scored a 4.4 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.1/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.4 is up +7% versus "Saturday Night Live's" rating on the same night last year in metered-market households (4.4 vs. 4.1 on Dec. 5, 2015) and the 2.1 in 18-49 in the LPMs is up +5% (2.1 vs. 2.0).

· The 4.4 rating in households and 2.1 in 18-49 in the metered markets top the last eight "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, excluding the April 23 Prince tribute.

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

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals so far this season growing by +60% in 18-49 and +3.527 million persons or +45% in total viewers nationally going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to "live plus seven day" figures. In L+SD, "SNL" this season has averaged a 2.34 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.837 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" has grown to a 3.74 in 18-49 and 11.364 million viewers.

· Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +35% in 18-49 nationally (3.74 vs. 2.78) and +2.788 million persons or +33% in total viewers (11.364 million vs. 8.576 million).

· The average 11.364 million viewers in L+7 makes this the show's most-watched season at this point in 24 years (versus prior seasons' original telecasts through comparable dates), best since 1992 (11.949 million for that season's first seven originals).

· The 3.74 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008 (4.51 for that season's first nine originals).

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/5/15):

FOX (8.701 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) was the demo champ for the third consecutive Saturday with its "CFB on FOX" (8.701 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) coverage.

ABC (7.078 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then claimed the silver with its own "Saturday Night College Football" (7.078 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2).

Next up was CBS (4.804 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with repeats of "NCIS" (4.909 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3), "NCIS: New Orleans" (4.653 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) and a new "48 Hours" (4.851 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4).

And finally, NBC (3.415 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up its holiday presentation of "It's a Wonderful Life" (3.415 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

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

· The Dec. 5 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Ryan Gosling and musical guest Leon Bridges averaged a 4.1 rating, 10 share in households in the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters, to match the show's average for original telecasts last season in 18-49 (2.0 vs. 2.0) while growing +3% versus last season's average in metered-market households (4.1 vs. 4.0).

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, growing by +48% this season going from "live plus same day" ratings to "live plus seven day" ratings in national adult 18-49 results (from a 1.85 rating to a 2.73).

Source: Nielsen Media Research