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[01/07/18 - 09:58 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NFL Playoffs Open Big for NBC
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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (1/6/18):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live sports.]

NBC (19.562 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) surged to the top spot on Saturday with its coverage of the "NFC Wild Card Game: Falcoms at Rams" (19.562 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1).

Second place then went to ABC (3.064 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) with a repeat "The Good Doctor" (4.409 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) followed by a new "Ten Days in the Valley" (2.561 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and the season finale of "Ten Days in the Valley" (2.223 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

Next up was CBS (3.715 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its lineup of "NCIS" (3.442 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8), "NCIS: New Orleans" (3.756 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "48 Hours" (3.949 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, encores of "The Four: Battle for Stardom" (1.136 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and another "The Four: Battle for Stardom" (1.245 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) on FOX (1.190 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· A Jan. 6 encore of "Saturday Night Live," with host Chance The Rapper and musical guest Eminem, airing from approximately 12 midnight-1:30 a.m. ET due to an NFL overrun, averaged a 4.1/11 in households in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.8/10 in 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· It's the highest-rated "Saturday Night Live" encore in the past year, since the Jan. 7, 2017 rebroadcast with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Lady Gaga (4.3/11 in metered-market households, 1.9 in 18-49 in the local people meters.


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/7/17):

NBC (21.871 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.8, #1) was of course the top draw on Saturday with its coverage of "NFC Wild Card Game: Detroit at Seattle" (21.871 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.8, #1).

ABC (4.167 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then claimed a distant second with encores of "To Tell the Truth" (5.288 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) and "Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers" (3.606 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3).

Next up was CBS (3.225 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with the formal debut of "Ransom" (3.264 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) followed by a repeat "Criminal Minds" (2.947 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and a new "48 Hours" (3.463 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

And finally, repeats of "Sleepy Hollow" (1.038 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Star" (0.996 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) on FOX (1.017 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night.

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

· An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," airing from 12-1:30 a.m. ET with host with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Lady Gaga, averaged a 3.9/11 in households in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.8/9 in 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· It's the highest-rated "Saturday Night Live" encore in four years in metered-market households, with last night's 3.9 in 18-49 the show's best since Jan. 5, 2013 (4.6 with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun).

· In 18-49 in the local people meters, "Saturday Night Live" generated its highest rating for a rebroadcast in three years, since the Jan. 11, 2014 encore hosted by Jimmy Fallon with musical guest Justin Timberlake averaged a 2.0.

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals so far this season growing by +58% in 18-49 and +3.280 million persons or +44% in total viewers nationally going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to "live plus seven day" figures. In L+SD, "SNL" this season has averaged a 2.25 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.525 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" grew to a 3.55 in 18-49 and 10.805 million viewers.

· Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +27% in 18-49 nationally (3.55 vs. 2.79) and +2.317 million persons or +27% in total viewers (10.805 million vs. 8.488 million).

· The average 10.805 million viewers in L+7 makes this the show's most-watched season at this point in 24 years (versus prior seasons' original telecasts through comparable dates), best since 1992 (12.308 million for that season's first nine originals).

· The 3.55 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008 (4.34 for that season's first eleven originals).

· National ratings, including viewer totals, for last night's "Saturday Night Live" encore are due from Nielsen on Tuesday.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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