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[02/04/18 - 08:47 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC, NBC Split Adults 18-49 Crown
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 (2/3/18):

NBC (3.307 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) and ABC (2.559 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) shared the adults 18-49 crown on Saturday as the latter served up "NBA Countdown" (2.068 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.657 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

The Peacock then opted for a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.934 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) followed by the annual "NFL Honors" (3.494 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was CBS (4.296 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with repeats of "Bull" (3.684 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7), "48 Hours" (3.921 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and a new "48 Hours" (5.283 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

And finally, encores of "The Resident" (1.149 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and a second "The Resident" (1.546 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) on FOX (1.348 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· The Feb. 3 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" has matched the show's second-highest metered-market household rating since early November and second-best adult 18-49 rating in the local people meters since mid-October.

· With an edition hosted by Natalie Portman and featuring musical guest Dua Lipa, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.6 rating, 12 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/11 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The Feb. 3 "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 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 programming on the broadcast networks, including ABC's Rockets-Cavaliers NBA coverage.

· The 4.6 rating in households equals the show's second-highest since Nov. 4, 2017 (4.7 with host Larry David and musical guest Miley Cyrus) and the 2.0 in 18-49 ties as the show's second-best in the local people meters since Oct. 14, 2017 (2.2 with host Kumail Nanjiani and musical guest P!nk), in both cases trailing over those spans the week-ago Jan. 27 episode, hosted by Will Ferrell with musical guest Chris Stapleton (4.7 in households, 2.3 in 18-49).


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/4/17):

FOX (3.167 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its coverage of the "NFL Honors" (3.167 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1).

Sharing the adults 18-49 honors was ABC (2.494 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) and its "NBA Countdown" (1.840 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.625 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1).

Next up was NBC (3.734 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its duo of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.136 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (2.931 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

And finally, CBS (3.846 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the evening with its trio of "Ransom" (3.286 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), a repeat "NCIS" (3.778 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "48 Hours" (4.476 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5).

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

· 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.

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals so far this season growing by +58% in 18-49 and +3.214 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 2.19 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.386 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" grew to a 3.46 in 18-49 and 10.600 million viewers.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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