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 (4/8/17):

NBC (3.977 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its mainstays "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.480 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) and "SNL Vintage" (2.973 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1).

The silver draw then was ABC (1.782 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) with its weekly "NBA Countdown" (1.331 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (1.872 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

Next up was CBS (3.066 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with the return of "Ransom" (3.129 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "Training Day" (2.528 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) plus a new "48 Hours" (3.541 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, encores of "MasterChef Junior" (0.986 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Prison Break" (0.936 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) on FOX (0.961 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· The April 8 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Louis C.K. and musical guest The Chainsmokers, has averaged a 4.5 rating, 12 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.1/11 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 2.1 ties it with "Empire" and "Modern Family" as the #3 entertainment telecast so far this week on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the local people meters, behind only "Big Bang Theory" and "The Voice."

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of April last year, last night's telecast is up +10% in meter-market households (4.5 vs. 4.1) and up +11% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.1 vs. 1.9 for the month of April 2016).

· The 4.5 rating in households matches last season's highest rating over the final 10 "Saturday Night Live" originals, while the 2.1 in 18-49 equals the high for last season's final nine first-runs.

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/9/16):

FOX (4.224 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) claimed the top spot on Saturday thanks to its coverage of "NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing from Texas" (4.224 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1).

NBC (4.074 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was the number two draw with its duo of "Dateline NBC" (4.675 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) and a "Saturday Night Live" (2.871 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) encore.

Next up was CBS (3.819 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (3.286 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" (3.095 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) plus a new "48 Hours" (5.078 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1).

And finally, ABC (1.830 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the evening with its "NBA Countdown" (1.556 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #8) and "NBA on ABC" (1.885 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) coverage.

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

· The April 9 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Russell Crowe and Musical Guest Margo Price, averaged a 4.0 rating, 10 share in household results from the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.8/9 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 both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, ahead of all primetime programs on those nets in both measures.

· "Saturday Night Live" grew +5% versus the same night last year in metered-market households (4.0 vs 3.8 on April 11, 2015).

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals growing by +50% going from L+SD to L+7 in adults 18-49 (1.93 to 2.89) and +2.246 million persons in total viewers (6.348 million to 8.594 million).

Source: Nielsen Media Research