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 (3/24/18):

CBS (2.589 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) was the most-watched broadcaster on Saturday with its mix of the special "39 Days" (1.776 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5), a repeat "Bull" (2.542 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and a new "48 Hours" (3.449 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1).

NBC (2.101 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) and ABC (2.088 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) share the demo crown as the former served up its special "Hope & Fury: MLK, The Movement and the Media" (1.927 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and a vinage "Saturday Night Live" (2.449 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1).

The latter then offered up repeats of "Over the Hedge" (1.981 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "20/20 Saturday" (2.302 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

And finally, a rebroadcast of "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?" (1.506 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) on FOX (1.506 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the night.

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

· The March 24 encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Saoirse Ronan and featuring musical guest U2, has averaged a 3.0 rating, 8 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.1/7 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, topping all primetime shows on those nets in both categories.

· "Saturday Night Live" scores its highest household rating in the metered markets for a regular-slot encore so far this season (excludes nights of NFL overruns and a midnight Halloween clip show following a "David S. Pumpkins" special) and in 18-49 in the local people meters, equals the show's season high for a regular-slot rebroadcast.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/25/17):

NBC (2.117 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) was the demo champ on a low key Saturday with its duo of "Despicable Me 2" (2.000 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (2.352 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1).

CBS (3.472 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then was the number two draw with a new "Ransom" (3.010 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5), a repeat "48 Hours" (3.467 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and a new "48 Hours" (3.941 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2).

Next up was ABC (1.974 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with the feature "Over the Hedge" (1.697 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and a special "20/20 Saturday" (2.531 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, encores of "Shots Fired" (1.198 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Empire" (1.133 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) on FOX (1.165 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 March 25 encore of "Saturday Night Live," with host Kristen Stewart and musical guest Alessia Cara, has averaged a 3.3 rating, 9 share in households in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.2/7 in 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live" encore was the #1 show of the night on the broadcast networks in metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating every Saturday primetime telecast on those nets in both measures.

· Versus what the show averaged last year with March rebroadcasts, last night's "Saturday Night Live" is up +18% in metered-market households (3.3 vs. 2.8). In fact, the 3.3 rating beats every encore "SNL" of last season.

Source: Nielsen Media Research