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[11/05/17 - 10:19 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS Tops ABC, FOX in College Showdown
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 six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (11/4/17):

CBS (6.487 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) pulled in front on Saturday with its annual telecast of "College Football: LSU @ Alabama" (6.487 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1).

FOX (3.069 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) then was the number two draw with its weekly "CFB on FOX" (3.069 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2).

Next up was ABC (2.967 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and its coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (2.967 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2).

And finally, NBC (2.765 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the night with "2017 Breeders' Cup" (2.148 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #6), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.183 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.966 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

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

· The Nov. 4 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" has delivered a season-high rating in metered-market households, according to "live plus same day" local-market results from Nielsen Media Research.

· With an edition hosted by Larry David and featuring musical guest Miley Cyrus, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.7 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.8/8 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters

· The Nov. 4 telecast aired live coast to coast (11:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. PT) and was replayed at 11:30 in western markets. Note that these numbers under-report last night's "SNL" results because they don't include viewership from the show's 11:30 replays in the Western U.S.

· Last night's edition hit a new season high in metered-market households, with the show's best rating since last season's finale (5.3/13 with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest Katy Perry). It's the second straight "SNL" original to hit a new season high, after the Oct. 14 episode, hosted by Kumail Nanjiani and featuring musica b0l guest P!nk, averaged a 4.6.

· 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 (11/5/16):

CBS (9.829 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) surged to the top spot on Saturday with its special coverage of "College Football: Alabama at LSU" (9.829 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1).

ABC (5.070 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with its weekly edition of "Saturday Night College Football" (5.070 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

Next up was NBC (2.777 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) and its mix of "The 2016 Breeders' Cup" (2.099 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.142 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) and "SNL Vintage" (3.090 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Pitch" (1.172 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "Lethal Weapon" (1.554 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) closed out the night on FOX (1.363 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4).

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

· The Nov. 5 edition of "Saturday Night Live" has scored the show's second-highest rating of the season to date in adults 18-49 in Nielsen's markets with local people meters and equaled the show's #2 rating of the season in metered-market households.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live," with host Benedict Cumberbatch and musical guest Solange, generated a 5.8 rating, 14 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.8/14 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Last night's telecast is up +14% versus the show's November 2015 average for originals in metered-market households (5.8 vs. 5.1) and up +22% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.8 vs. 2.3 for November 2015).

· The only "Saturday Night Live" telecast so far this fall to top these Nov. 5 overnights is the Oct. 22 edition (6.1 in metered-market households, 3.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Lady Gaga). The season premiere on Oct. 1 (5.8 in households, 2.7 in 18-49 with host Margot Robbie and musical guest The Weeknd) also tied last night's 5.8 in metered-market households.

· Last night's 2.8 in 18-49 in the local people meters is the highest rating for a November telecast of "Saturday Night Live" since Nov. 3, 2012 (3.0 with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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