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

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (1/21/17):

ABC (2.952 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its presentation of "NBA Countdown" (2.405 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (3.061 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1).

CBS (4.013 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was the silver draw with a new "Ransom" (3.619 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) alongside a repeat "48 Hours" (3.886 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and a second "48 Hours" (4.535 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was NBC (2.810 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its coverage of the "U.S. Figure Skating Championships" (2.810 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

And finally, encores of "Lethal Weapon" (1.847 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "Star" (1.195 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) on FOX (1.521 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night.

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

· "Saturday Night Live" has scored the show's highest metered-market ratings since Nov. 12.

· The Jan. 21 telecast, with host Aziz Ansari and musical guest Big Sean, scored a 5.1 rating, 13 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.5/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· These are the strongest "Saturday Night Live" local-market ratings since the Nov. 12 telecast, which was the first "SNL" to follow the Presidential election. Featuring host Dave Chappelle and musical guest A Tribe Called Quest, the Nov. 12 edition averaged a 6.2 household rating and a 3.9 in 18-49 in the local people meters.

· The 5.1 rating in households beat results for the final 10 "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, while the 2.5 in 18-49 in the local people meters topped last season's final 11 first-runs.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 telecast of the night on the broadcast networks in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating every Saturday primetime telecast on those nets in both categories.

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/23/16):

ABC (3.492 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) claimed the demo crown with its coverage of "NBA Countdown" (2.491 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and "NBA on ABC" (3.692 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1).

CBS (5.141 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then claimed the silver with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (4.846 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and "48 Hours" (4.970 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) plus a new "48 Hours" (5.609 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2).

Next up was FOX (2.235 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its "Premier Boxing Champions on FOX" (2.235 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) presentation.

And finally, NBC (3.695 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the evening with the "U.S. Figure Skating Championships" (3.695 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5).

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

· The Jan. 23 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Ronda Rousey and musical guest Selena Gomez (and featuring an appearance by Tina Fey as Sarah Palin), averaged a 5.0 rating, 12 share in household results from the 56 markets metered-by Nielsen Media Research (the Raleigh-Durham market is currently excluded, ratings may include some preemptions for local weather coverage) and a 2.5/11 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, ahead of all primetime programming on those networks in both measures.

· "Saturday Night Live" is up +9% versus the show's season averages for originals in households (5.0 vs. 4.6) and up +14% 18-49 in the local people meters (2.5 vs. 2.2).

· Versus the same night last year, "SNL" grew +6% in metered-market households (5.0 vs. 4.7 on Jan. 24, 2015) and up +14% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.5 vs. 2.2).

· 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