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[01/14/18 - 08:27 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS Rides NFL Playoffs to Victory
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 (1/13/18):

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

CBS (24.231 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.1, #1) overshadowed the competition on Saturday with its coverage of the "AFC Divisional Game: Titans at Patriots" (24.231 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.1, #1).

NBC (3.820 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then was a distant second with its mix of "Will & Grace" (5.603 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "Superstore" (3.590 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.763 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (3.100 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4).

Next up was ABC (1.749 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with encores of "Flushed Away" (1.301 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "20/20 Saturday" (2.645 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #6).

And finally, FOX (1.062 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the night with rebroadcasts of "The Four: Battle for Stardom" (0.945 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #9) and another "The Four: Battle for Stardom" (1.180 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7).

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

· "Saturday Night Live" has equaled its top metered-market household rating since Nov. 4, while also matching the show's second-highest overnight result of the season to date.

· The Jan. 13 telecast, hosted by Sam Rockwell and featuring musical guest Halsey, has averaged a 4.6 rating, 10 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.6 in households equals the show's prior original (4.6 on Dec. 16 with host Kevin Hart and musical guest Foo Fighters) as the best for "Saturday Night Live" since Nov. 4 (4.7 with host Larry David and musical guest Miley Cyrus) and ties as the #2 highest rated "SNL" of the 2017-18 season to date.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, ahead of all primetime entertainment programming on the broadcast networks and trailing only CBS' NFL Playoff coverage.

· The Jan. 13 "SNL" 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.


Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/14/17):

CBS (26.326 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1) was of course the top draw on Saturday with its coverage of the "AFC Divisional Game: Houston at New England" (26.326 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1).

A distant silver then went to FOX (3.278 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) with repeats of "Lethal Weapon" (4.727 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2), "The Mick" (1.927 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and another "The Mick" (1.730 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

Next up was NBC (3.736 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its duo of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.064 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (3.082 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

And finally, repeats of "To Tell the Truth" (2.448 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), "Match Game" (2.368 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and another "Match Game" (2.427 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) rounded out the night for ABC (2.414 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

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

· The Jan. 14 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Felicity Jones and musical guest Sturgill Simpson, scored a 4.3 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Both the 4.3 rating in households and the 2.0 in 18-49 in the metered markets top the last eight "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, excluding the April 23 Prince tribute.

· "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and in adults 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating all primetime entertainment programs on those nets.

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

· 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 eleven 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).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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