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[04/07/19 - 08:32 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS Wins Big with Final Four Coverage
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 (4/6/19):

CBS (14.544 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) surged to the top spot on Saturday with its primetime coverage of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament" (16.593 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) Final Four followed by a second entry from the "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament" (14.134 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2).

NBC (2.958 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #2) then was a distant second with its mix of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.000 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4), another "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.477 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.398 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

Next up was ABC (2.423 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #3) with encores of "American Idol" (1.986 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #7) and "20/20 Saturday" (3.299 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

And finally, FOX (0.865 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) closed out the evening with second runs of "MasterChef Junior" (0.746 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) and "9-1-1" (0.984 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8).

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

· The April 6 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Kit Harington and musical guest Sara Bareilles, averaged a 4.4 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.7/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The April 6 "Saturday Night Live" ranks as the #1 non-sports show of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, easily topping all primetime entertainment programs on those nets. In fact, in 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" topped all but three primetime entertainment programs on the Big 4 so far this week.

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of April last year, the April 6 telecast is up +2% in metered-market households (4.4 vs. 4.3).


Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/7/18):

ABC (2.353 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) inched past the competition on Saturday with its regular season finales to "NBA Countdown" (1.860 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.451 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1).

NBC (2.737 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was a close second with its mix of "Will & Grace" (1.884 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T9), "Superstore" (1.996 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.426 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.845 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1).

Next up was CBS (3.546 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with its trio of "Ransom" (2.715 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6), a repeat "NCIS" (3.362 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "48 Hours" (4.561 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4).

And finally, encores of "MasterChef Junior" (1.139 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T9) and "Showtime at the Apollo" (1.307 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T9) on FOX (1.223 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 April 7 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Chadwick Boseman with musical guest Cardi B, has averaged a 4.6 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· These are the highest "Saturday Night Live" figures in both measures since Feb. 3 (4.6 in metered-market households, 2.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Natalie Portman and musical guest Dua Lipa). "SNL" last scored higher with the Jan. 27 edition (4.9 in households, 2.3 in 18-49 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Chris Stapleton).

· "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 Thunder-Rockets NBA coverage.

· "Saturday Night Live" outrated the night's #2 Big 4 program in metered-market households by a +44% margin (4.6 vs. 3.2 for CBS's 10 p.m. telecast of "48 Hours") and the #2 show in 18-49 in the local people meters by +122% (2.0 vs. 0.9 for the Thunder-Rockets game).

· Last night's telecast is up +2% versus "SNL's" year-ago April average for originals in metered-market households (4.6 vs. 4.5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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