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[12/22/19 - 10:06 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC Tops Sports Heavy Evening
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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/21/19):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live events.]

NBC (3.698 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its two-hour edition of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.829 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) and "SNL Vintage" (3.437 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1).

ABC (2.203 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) then was the number two network with its coverage of the "Las Vegas Bowl" (2.203 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

Next up was FOX (1.415 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with its telecast of "Premier Boxing Champions" (1.415 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

And finally, CBS (2.185 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night with "Young Sheldon" (3.129 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3), "The Unicorn" (1.773 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6), "Carol's Second Act" (1.514 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8), "Bob (Hearts) Abishole" (1.666 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) and "48 Hours" (2.513 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6).

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

· The Dec. 21 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Eddie Murphy and musical guest Lizzo, has averaged a 2.5 rating in adults 18-49 and 9.921 viewers overall, according to "live plus same day" "fast official" ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

· This is the highest-scoring edition of "Saturday Night Live" since May 2017 in both measures, best for the show since the May 13, 2017 telecast, hosted by Melissa McCarthy with musical guest HAIM, which averaged a 2.7 rating in adults 18-49 and 10.382 million viewers overall.

· The 2.5 rating in 18-49 ties Fox's "Masked Singer" season premiere on Sept. 25 as the #1 highest-rated entertainment series telecast this season on any network across all dayparts.

· It's also the highest-rated comedy telecast on any network since CBS' "Big Bang Theory" series finale on May 16 (3.2).

· Versus "Saturday Night Live's" season averages heading into last night, the Dec. 21 results are up +98% in 18-49 (2.48 vs. 1.25) and +68% in total viewers (9.921 million vs. 5.916 million).


Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/22/18):

NBC (3.494 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) took home top honors on Saturday with a two-hour "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.542 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (3.399 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1).

FOX (1.927 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then was the silver draw among adults 18-49 with its coverage of "Premier Boxing Champions" (1.927 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

Next up was CBS (2.965 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with repeats of "NCIS" (2.824 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "FBI" (2.605 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) plus a new "48 Hours" (3.466 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, an encore of "CMA Country Christmas" (2.594 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and a new "The Alec Baldwin Show" (1.120 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #8) rounded out the night on ABC (2.103 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4).

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

· A Dec. 22 encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Seth Meyers and musical guest Paul Simon, has averaged a 2.9 rating, 8 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 0.9/5 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· This week's "SNL" scored the show's highest metered-market household rating for a regular-slot encore since April 24 (3.0 with host Saoirse Ronan and musical guest U2) (excludes an hourlong Oct. 27 11:30-12:30 "Halloween" special).

· The 0.9 in 18-49 in the local people meters equals the high for a regular-slot "Saturday Night Live" encore since June 2 (1.0 with host Donald Glover and musical guest Glover as Childish Gambino) (excludes the Oct. 27 special).

· The Dec. 22 "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people, topping all primetime shows on those nets in both measures.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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