or


[01/15/17 - 09:38 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NFL Playoff Coverage Tops Charts 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 (1/14/17):

CBS (26.326 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1) was of course the top draw on Saturday with its coverage of the "AFC Divisional Game: Houston at New England" (26.326 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1).

A distant silver then went to FOX (3.278 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) with repeats of "Lethal Weapon" (4.727 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2), "The Mick" (1.927 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and another "The Mick" (1.730 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

Next up was NBC (3.736 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its duo of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.064 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (3.082 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

And finally, repeats of "To Tell the Truth" (2.448 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), "Match Game" (2.368 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and another "Match Game" (2.427 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) rounded out the night for ABC (2.414 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

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

· The Jan. 14 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Felicity Jones and musical guest Sturgill Simpson, scored a 4.3 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Both the 4.3 rating in households and the 2.0 in 18-49 in the metered markets top the last eight "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, excluding the April 23 Prince tribute.

· "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and in adults 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating all primetime entertainment programs on those nets.

· 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 +58% in 18-49 and +3.280 million persons or +44% 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 2.25 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.525 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" grew to a 3.55 in 18-49 and 10.805 million viewers.

· Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +27% in 18-49 nationally (3.55 vs. 2.79) and +2.317 million persons or +27% in total viewers (10.805 million vs. 8.488 million).

· The average 10.805 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 (12.308 million for that season's first eleven originals).

· The 3.55 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008 (4.34 for that season's first eleven originals).


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/16/16):

NBC (29.237 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1) rocketed to the top spot on Saturday with its coverage of the "NFC Divisional Game: Green Bay at Arizona" (29.237 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1).

CBS (5.233 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) then was a distant silver with its mix of "NFL Overrun/NCIS: New Orleans" (7.209 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "Limitless" (4.466 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) and "48 Hours" (4.025 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

Next up was ABC (1.321 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and the feature "The Social Network" (1.382 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) plus a repeat "Fresh Off the Boat" (1.020 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #8).

And finally, encores of "Hell's Kitchen" (1.204 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "Second Chance" (1.110 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) on FOX (1.157 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the night.

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

· "Saturday Night Live" has delivered its highest adult 18-49 rating in the local people meters in two years.

· The Jan. 16 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Adam Driver and musical guest Chris Stapleton, averaged a 3.0 rating, 15 share in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters from 12:15-1:45 a.m. ET, according to Nielsen Media Research (an adjusted average in household rating in the 56 markets metered by Nielsen is currently unavailable due to technical issues). Note that last night's "SNL" was delayed about 45 minutes by the overrun of NBC's primetime NFL Playoff telecast.

· "Saturday Night Live" delivered the show's highest results in the Local People Meters since Jan. 4, 2014 (3.0/12 for "SNL Best of This Season," also following an NFL overrun) and equals the show's high since the Dec. 21, 2013 edition (3.9/18 with host Jimmy Fallon and musical guest Justin Timberlake).

· In household rating, "Saturday Night Live" is estimated to be generating about a mid-5 rating, though the exact figure is currently unavailable due to technical issues. A mid-5 would be the #2 household rating of the season, behind only the Nov. 7 telecast with host Donald Trump and musical guest Sia (6.6/16). Prior to last night, "SNL's" #2 household result this season has been the 5.1/13 for the Dec. 19 edition hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler with musical guest Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 in the metered markets, far ahead of all primetime entertainment programming on those networks.

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals growing by +52% going from L+SD to L+7 in adults 18-49 (1.84 to 2.79) and +2.252 million persons in total viewers (6.236 million to 8.488 million).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [january 2017]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[10/20/26 - 03:19 PM]
"College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Delivers Its Third Most-Watched Regular-Season Episode Ever from BYU
ESPN networks had 3 of the top 4 games this week, the second most-watched regular season Saturday on record (based on minutes).

[10/20/26 - 03:08 PM]
Ohio State's Win Over Indiana Scores Most-Watched College Football Game of the Week
Viewership peaked at 14,269,000 viewers from 3:30-3:45 PM ET on FOX.

[10/20/26 - 12:54 PM]
"Lioness" Roars to Record-Breaking Season Three
Viewership climbed every week of the eight-episode season, culminating in a series-record finale, which drew 9.7 million viewers in its first seven days, the largest audience for any episode in the show's history.

[10/20/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of October 12 - Get the Ransom Ready: "Animals" Takes the No. 1 Spot for a Second Week
"Below" stayed at the top of the English TV list with 21.2 million views - the highest viewership in a single week for a Canadian original title.

[10/19/26 - 10:19 AM]
2026 NLCS on FOX & FS1 Pulls in Best Average Viewership for an LCS on Any Network Since 2015
On FS1, Game 4 averaged 6,135,000 viewers.

[10/16/26 - 02:30 PM]
Brewers Triumph on FS1 Delivers Most-Watched LCS Game 3 Telecast Since 2016
On FS1, Game 3 averaged 6,460,000 viewers.

[10/16/26 - 11:45 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Scores with Show's "Super Bowl Night"
In fact, among Adults 18-49, "Dancing with the Stars" grew for the fourth telecast in a row, hitting a season high and posting the show's best non-finale episode in over nine years.

[10/16/26 - 10:42 AM]
ABC News Wins Across Friday Night, Sunday Morning and Late Night
"20/20: Born to Kill" ranked as Friday's No.1 newsmagazine in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/15/26 - 02:55 PM]
Super Bowl Season Success: Bills-Rams Thriller Propels "Monday Night Football" to Best Five-Week Start of ESPN Era
The matchup featuring the NFL's two most recent MVPs averaged 19.8 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes.

[10/15/26 - 02:46 PM]
NLCS Game 2 on FOX/FS1: Most-Watched LCS Game 2 on Any Network Since 2016
On FOX/FS1, the game averaged 6,921,000 viewers.

[10/15/26 - 02:35 PM]
NHL on Frozen Frenzy on ESPN Delivers Double-Digit Increases
The tripleheader averaged 600,000 viewers, up 31% from a year ago.

[10/15/26 - 10:29 AM]
ESPN Delivered Its Most-Watched WNBA Playoffs Ever!
Across eight games, ESPN networks averaged 1.4 million viewers, up 23% compared to coverage through the semifinals last year.

[10/15/26 - 08:00 AM]
CBS Wins Its Premiere Week with Eight of the Top 10 Broadcast Shows and Delivers +9% Year-Over-Year Growth
Weekly viewership averaged 4.43 million viewers, growing +9% from its 2025 premiere week (4.08m viewers).

[10/14/26 - 04:10 PM]
Nebraska Volleyball Serves Up a Big Saturday on FOX
Nebraska's 3-0 win averaged 945,000 viewers on FOX.

[10/14/26 - 03:50 PM]
Indiana's Win Over Nebraska Scores 6,734,000 Viewers on FOX
"Big Noon Saturday" peaked at 9,623,000 viewers.