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 (9/30/17):

ABC (4.623 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (4.623 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1).

Second place then went to FOX (2.570 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) with its own "CFB on FOX" (2.570 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) coverage.

Next up was NBC (2.677 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with repeats of "Will & Grace" (2.100 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "Superstore" (2.078 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) plus "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.399 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.544 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

And finally, a repeat "NCIS" (3.286 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) alongside the return of "48 Hours" (2.790 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and a second "48 Hours" (4.177 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) rounded out the night on CBS (3.418 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

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

The 43rd season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" has generated the show's second most-watched season opener in seven years, trailing over that span only last year's election-fueled results, according to "fast official" "live plus same day" results from Nielsen Media Research.

With a telecast hosted by Ryan Gosling and featuring musical guest Jay-Z, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged 7.020 million viewers overall and a 1.91 rating in adults 18-49.

The Sept. 30 edition, which aired live coast to coast (11:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. PT) and counted unduplicated viewers from 11:30 encores in western markets, generated the show's second biggest overall audience for a season debut since Sept. 25, 2010, when the telecast hosted by Amy Poehler and featuring musical guest Katy Perry, averaged a slightly higher 7.022 million viewers.

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (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).

Source: Nielsen Media Research