Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (3/3/18):

ABC (2.675 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) pulled back in front among adults 18-49 on Saturday with its coverage of "NBA Countdown" (2.296 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.751 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

CBS (3.720 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then was the most-watched broadcaster with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.395 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "48 Hours" (3.554 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.211 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was NBC (1.574 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and its primetime portion of "National Hockey League: Toronto at Washington" (1.574 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

And finally, encores of "MasterChef Junior" (1.396 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "Showtime at the Apollo" (1.457 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) on FOX (1.426 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) rounded out the night.

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

· The March 3 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Charles Barkley and featuring musical guest Migos, has averaged a 4.2 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 Boston and Providence markets are currently excluded).

· With its first telecast in four weeks, "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, topping in both measures all primetime programs on those nets, including ABC's Celtics-Rockets NBA coverage.

· "Saturday Night Live" outrated the night's #2 Big 4 program in metered-market households by a +45% margin (4.2 vs. 2.9 for CBS' 10 p.m. telecast of "48 Hours") and the #2 show in 18-49 in the local people meters by +58% (1.9 vs. 1.2 for the Celtics-Rockets game).

· The March 3 "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.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/4/17):

CBS (2.865 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) claimed the top spot on Saturday with a new "Ransom" (3.202 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and its special "Showtime Championship Boxing on CBS" (2.696 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1).

NBC (2.767 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) then offered up encores of "Chicago Fire" (2.105 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6), "Chicago PD" (2.760 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and "Chicago Justice" (3.435 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2).

Sharing the silver was ABC (1.698 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and its presentation of "NBA Countdown" (1.657 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (1.706 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, encores of "24: Legacy" (0.720 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) and "APB" (0.982 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) on FOX (0.851 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· "Saturday Night Live" has generated the show's second-highest overnight rating since Nov. 12.

· The March 4 telecast, hosted by Octavia Spencer and featuring musical guest Father John Misty, scored a 5.2 rating, 14 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.3/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 5.2 in household rating ranks as the second strongest "Saturday Night Live" local-market result since the Nov. 12 telecast (with host Dave Chappelle and musical guest A Tribe Called Quest, 6.2), which was the first "SNL" to follow the Presidential election, trailing over that span only the Feb. 11 edition (with host Alec Baldwin and musical guest Ed Sheeran, 7.2).

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of March last year, last night's telecast is up +30% in meter-market households (5.2 vs. 4.0) and up +21% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.3 vs. 1.9 for the month of March 2016).

· The 5.2 rating in households beats results for the final 12 "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, while the 2.3 in 18-49 in the local people meters tops last season's final nine first-runs.

· 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.

· Compared with all primetime programming on the Big 4 networks this week, "SNL's" 2.3 would be tied for #4 in 18-49 in the local people meters, behind only Monday's "Voice" (3.1), Monday's "Bachelor" (2.6) and Wednesday's "Modern Family" (2.4) and tied with Tuesday's "Voice" (2.3).

Source: Nielsen Media Research