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 (10/21/17):

ABC (6.726 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) held off the competition with its weekly "Saturday Night College Football" (6.726 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1).

NBC (2.475 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then claimed the silver with its special "College Football: USC at Notre Dame" (2.475 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was CBS (3.489 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with repeats of "NCIS" (2.998 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) and "48 Hours" (3.439 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.030 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

And finally, FOX (1.411 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the night with "CFB on FOX" (1.411 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

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

· An Oct. 21 encore of "Saturday Night Live," with host Ryan Gosling and musical guest Jay-Z, has averaged a 2.7 rating, 7 share in households in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.0/6 in 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "SNL" scored its highest household rating in the metered markets since June 10 (2.9 with host Jimmy Fallon and musical guest Harry Styles) and equaled the show's highest 18-49 rating in the local people meters since April 29 (1.1 with host Aziz Ansari and musical guest Big Sean).

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/22/16):

ABC (6.165 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) continued its reign on Saturday with "Saturday Night College Football" (6.165 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1).

CBS (3.643 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) then was the silver draw with its mix of "MacGyver" (3.324 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2), "NCIS" (3.661 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) and "48 Hours" (3.945 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was FOX (2.412 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) with its own "CFB on FOX" (2.412 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) coverage.

And finally, repeats of "Superstore" (1.568 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #7) and the feature "Identity Theft" (2.387 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) on NBC (2.251 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the night.

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

· The Oct. 22 edition of "Saturday Night Live" has delivered season-high ratings in both metered-market households and adults 18-49 in the local people meters, scoring its best results for any October telecast in eight years.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live," with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Lady Gaga, generated a 6.1 rating, 15 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 3.0/14 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· These are the show's highest ratings so far this season, topping the previous highs set with the season premiere on Oct. 1 (5.8/15 in metered-market households, 2.7/14 in 18-49 in the local people meters).

· For an October edition, they're the highest "Saturday Night Live" overnights since Oct. 25, 2008 (7.1/16 in metered-market households, 4.0 rating in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Jon Hamm and musical guest Coldplay).

· Last night's telecast is up +45% versus the show's October 2015 average for originals in metered-market households (6.1 vs. 4.2) and up +50% in 18-49 in the local people meters (3.0 vs. 2.0 for October 2015).

· Counting all "Saturday Night Live" telecasts, it's the top-rated in metered-market households since Nov. 7, 2015 and highest in 18-49 in the local people meters since Dec. 21, 2013.

Source: Nielsen Media Research