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[05/20/18 - 08:55 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC Keeps Demo Crown with NHL Playoffs
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 eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (5/19/18):

NBC (2.817 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) held onto the top demo spot on Saturday with its coverage of the "NHL Playoffs: Capitals @ Lightning" (2.959 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.531 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2).

CBS (4.429 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then claimed the silver with its news special "Royal Romance: The Marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle" (4.680 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and a new "48 Hours" (3.930 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4).

Next up was ABC (2.531 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with second runs of "American Idol" (2.031 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) and "20/20 Saturday" (3.530 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4).

And finally, encores of "MasterChef Junior" (1.022 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) and "Showtime at the Apollo" (0.981 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #8) on FOX (1.001 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· "Saturday Night Live" has delivered its highest overnight ratings since April 7.

· The May 19 edition of "Saturday Night Live," the season finale with host Tina Fey and musical guest Nicki Minaj, has averaged a 4.5 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· It's the highest-rated "Saturday Night Live" in both measures since the April 7 telecast, with host Chadwick Boseman and musical guest Cardi B (4.6 in metered-market households, 2.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters).

· The May 19 telecast, which included appearances by Alec Baldwin, Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Jerry Seinfeld, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Rock, Fred Armisen, Anne Hathaway, Tracy Morgan, Donald Glover, Lin-Manuel Miranda and John Goodman, scored as 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.

· The May 19 "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 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/20/17):

NBC (2.697 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) claimed the demo crown on Saturday with its primetime portion of the "NHL Playoffs: Predators at Ducks" (2.688 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) followed by "SNL Vintage" (2.716 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1).

CBS (2.853 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) then was the most-watched network with a repeat "NCIS: New Orleans" (3.196 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) alongside the departing "Training Day" (2.536 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and a new "48 Hours" (2.826 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

Next up was ABC (2.544 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) and its encore lineup of "American Housewife" (1.503 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "Downward Dog" (1.390 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "20/20 Saturday" (2.854 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and another "20/20 Saturday" (3.330 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, "FOX Sports Saturday Presents Major League Baseball" (2.544 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) rounded out the night on FOX (2.194 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

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

· "Saturday Night Live" has outrated every primetime telecast on the broadcast networks so far this week in adults 18-49, while delivering the show's most-watched season finale in six years.

· The May 20 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest Katy Perry, averaged 8.272 million viewers overall and a 2.32 rating in adults 18-49 in "fast official" "live plus same day" results from Nielsen Media Research.

· The telecast, which aired live coast to coast (11:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. PT) and counted unduplicated viewers from 11:30 encores in western markets, ranks as the #1 telecast so far this week on the broadcast networks in adult 18-49 rating, outrating the week's current #2 show, Fox's "Empire" (2.17) by a +7% margin.

· The 8.272 million is "Saturday's Night Live's" biggest overall audience for a season finale since May 21, 2011 (with host Justin Timberlake and musical guest Lady Gaga, 9.818 million). In 18-49, it's the top-rated "SNL" season-closer since May 18, 2013 (with host Ben Affleck and musical guest Kanye West, 2.37).

· Versus "Saturday Night Live's" average with originals for the month of May last year, this week's telecast is up +45% in adults 18-49 (with a 2.32 rating vs. a 1.60) and +3.0 million persons or +58% in total viewers (8.272 million vs. 5.233 million for the month of May 2016).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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