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[05/05/19 - 08:29 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBA Playoffs Put ABC on Top
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 (5/4/19):

ABC (5.318 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) pulled in front on Saturday with its presentation of "NBA Countdown" (4.222 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) and the "NBA Playoffs: Warriors at Rockets" (5.537 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1).

The silver then went to NBC (3.724 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) with the primetime portion of the "NHL Playoffs: Blue Jackets at Bruins" (4.127 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.918 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4).

Next up was CBS (2.276 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #3) with the return of "Million Dollar Mile" (1.689 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T6) followed by new episodes of "Ransom" (2.139 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T6) and "48 Hours" (3.001 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5).

And finally, FOX (1.075 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) closed out the night with encores of "MasterChef Junior" (1.037 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T6) and "9-1-1" (1.112 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T6).

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

· The May 4 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Adam Sandler and musical guest Shawn Mendes, averaged a 4.8 rating, 12 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.8/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.8 rating in metered-market households equals "SNL's" season high and best in 15 months, since Jan. 27, 2018 (4.9 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Chris Stapleton). "SNL" also earned 4.8s earlier this season on Dec. 15, 2018 with host Matt Damon and musical guests Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, and with the Sept. 29, 2018 season premiere with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West.

· In 18-49 in the local people meters, the 1.8 is "SNL's" best since March 2 (1.9 with host John Mulaney and musical guest Thomas Rhett

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of May last year, the May 4 telecast is up +12% in metered-market households (4.8 vs. 4.3).

· The May 4 "Saturday Night Live" ranks as the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters behind only ABC's Warriors-Rockets NBA Playoffs. In fact, in 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" trails only two primetime entertainment program on the Big 4 nets so far this week, NBC's "2019 Billboard Music Awards" (2.4) and CBS' "Big Bang Theory" (2.1), while tying ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (1.8).


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/5/18):

ABC (5.072 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) got a boost on Saturday thanks to its coverage of the "NBA Playoffs: Raptors @ Cavaliers" (5.072 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1).

NBC (3.536 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then offered up the primetime portion of "NHL Playoffs: Penguins @ Capitals" (3.913 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.781 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3).

Next up was CBS (3.210 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its mix of "Ransom" (2.761 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5), "NCIS" (2.938 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "48 Hours" (3.931 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

And finally, encores of "MasterChef Junior" (1.119 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and a second "MasterChef Junior" (1.329 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) rounded out the night on FOX (1.224 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4).

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

· The May 5 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Donald Glover and featuring Glover as musical guest Childish Gambino, has averaged a 4.1 rating, 10 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.8/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The May 5 telecast, which included appearances in the cold open by Ben Stiller, Martin Short, Jimmy Fallon, Scarlett Johansson, Alec Baldwin and Stormy Daniels, virtually matched the how's results for the same night last year (4.1/10 in metered-market households and 1.9/9 in 18-49 in the local people meters on May 6, 2017).

· "Saturday Night Live" ranked as the #1 entertainment show of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, topping the primetime non-sports programs on those nets.

· The May 5 "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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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