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 (5/18/19):

NBC (2.960 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) was the top draw on a low key Saturday with its mix of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (2.903 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4), a second hour of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.383 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.593 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2).

FOX (2.369 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) then shared in the demo honors with the return of "FOX Sports Saturday Presents Major League Baseball" (2.369 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2).

Next up was CBS (2.449 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with a repeat "God Friended Me" (1.992 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) followed by new episodes of "Ransom" (2.272 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) and "48 Hours" (3.084 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

And finally, ABC (2.087 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the night with second runs of "American Idol" (1.906 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) and "20/20 Saturday" (2.449 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

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

· The May 18 season finale of "Saturday Night Live," with host Paul Rudd and musical guest DJ Khaled, averaged a 4.0 rating, 10 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.6/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The May 18 "Saturday Night Live" ranks as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters.

· In metered-market households, "Saturday Night Live" topped the #2 Big 4 telecast of the night, CBS' "48 Hours," by a +48% margin (4.0 vs. 2.7). In 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" more than doubled the night's #2 program, Fox's Astros-Red Sox Major League Baseball (1.6 vs. 0.6).

· The year-ago "Saturday Night Live" season finale, with host Tina Fey and musical guest Nicki Minaj earned a 4.5 in metered-market households and a 1.9 in 18-49 in the local people meters on May 19, 2018.

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research