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

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (9/29/18):

ABC (8.865 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) surged to top honors last night with its weekly coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (8.865 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1).

NBC (3.454 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then was the silver draw with its own special "College Football: Stanford at Notre Dame" (3.454 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.458 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with an encore of "FBI" (2.979 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) followed by the season premiere of "48 Hours" (3.465 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and a second "48 Hours" (3.931 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

And finally, FOX (1.373 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the night with "CFB on FOX" (1.373 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

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

· The 44th season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" has generated the show's second highest-rated season debut in six years, trailing over that span only 2016's election-fueled results, according to preliminary metered-market "live plus same day" results from Nielsen Media Research.

· With an edition hosted by Adam Driver and featuring musical guest Kanye West and an appearance by Matt Damon, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.8 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen and a 2.3/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The Sept. 29 edition, 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, generated the show's second biggest metered-market household rating for a season debut since Sept. 15, 2012, when the telecast hosted by Seth MacFarlane and featuring musical guest Frank Ocean, also averaged a 4.8.

· Over that six-year span, the only bigger result for an "SNL" season debut came with the 2016 opener, hosted by Margot Robbie and featuring musical guest The Weeknd, as well as the first appearance of Alec Baldwin as then-Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump (5.8 rating in metered-market households).

· Excluding election years, this is the highest "SNL" season premiere since the Sept. 24, 2011 opener with host Alec Baldwin and musical guest Radiohead (5.1).

· Versus the year-ago premiere, last night's "Saturday Night Live" grew +7% in metered-market households (4.8 vs. 4.5 on Sept. 30, 2017) and was up +10% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.3 vs. 2.1). Last night's household rating tops every "SNL" telecast from last season except the Jan. 27 edition, hosted by Will Ferrell and featuring musical guest Chris Stapleton (4.9). In 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" most recently topped last night's 2.3 with the 2016-17 season finale, May 20, 2017, with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest Katy Perry (2.6).

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/30/17):

ABC (4.623 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (4.623 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1).

Second place then went to FOX (2.570 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) with its own "CFB on FOX" (2.570 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) coverage.

Next up was NBC (2.677 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with repeats of "Will & Grace" (2.100 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "Superstore" (2.078 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) plus "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.399 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.544 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

And finally, a repeat "NCIS" (3.286 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) alongside the return of "48 Hours" (2.790 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and a second "48 Hours" (4.177 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) rounded out the night on CBS (3.418 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

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

The 43rd season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" has generated the show's second most-watched season opener in seven years, trailing over that span only last year's election-fueled results, according to "fast official" "live plus same day" results from Nielsen Media Research.

With a telecast hosted by Ryan Gosling and featuring musical guest Jay-Z, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged 7.020 million viewers overall and a 1.91 rating in adults 18-49.

The Sept. 30 edition, 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, generated the show's second biggest overall audience for a season debut since Sept. 25, 2010, when the telecast hosted by Amy Poehler and featuring musical guest Katy Perry, averaged a slightly higher 7.022 million viewers.

Source: Nielsen Media Research