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[02/09/20 - 08:56 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBA Tops Demos for ABC; NBC Leads Total Viewers
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 (2/8/20):

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

ABC (2.161 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) led the low key demo race with "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.161 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1).

FOX (1.750 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) was a close second with encores of "The Masked Singer" (1.973 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) and "LEGO Masters" (1.528 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

Next up was NBC (3.134 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.205 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5), a second "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.553 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (2.644 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

And finally, rounding out the night with CBS (2.693 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) and its mix of "Tommy" (2.573 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8), "48 Hours" (2.158 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) and a new "48 Hours" (3.350 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

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

· The Feb. 8 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host RuPaul and musical guest Justin Bieber, has averaged a 4.3 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.3 in households ties last night's "Saturday Night Live" as the #2 highest-rated "SNL" in metered-market households among the 12 originals that have aired since Nielsen changed its methodology Oct. 5, ranking behind only the high-rated Dec. 21 telecast hosted by Eddie Murphy with musical guest Lizzo (6.7). "SNL" also generated a 4.3 on Nov. 23 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest King Princess.

· Note that current metered-market results are not compatible with data issued before Oct. 5 due to changes in Nielsen methodology.


Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/9/19):

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

CBS (3.002 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its inaugural coverage of the "Alliance of American Football" (3.002 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1).

ABC (2.370 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was a close second with its weekly "NBA Countdown" (2.031 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.438 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2).

Next up was NBC (3.339 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with an encore of "America's Got Talent: The Champions" (3.562 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.891 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

And finally on FOX (1.090 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4), repeats of "9-1-1" (1.386 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #6) and "The Passage" (0.793 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #7) rounded out the evening.

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

· The Feb. 9 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Halsey, averaged a 4.7 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.

· These are the show's second highest metered-market ratings since "SNL's" Sept. 29, 2018 season premiere, trailing over that span only the Dec. 15, 2018 edition (hosted by Matt Damon with musical guests Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, 4.8 in metered-market households, 2.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters). The season premiere, with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West, earned a 4.8 in households and a 2.3 in 18-49.

· The Feb. 9 "Saturday Night Live" ranks 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 all primetime shows on those nets, including ABC's primetime Thunder-Rockets NBA Basketball coverage and CBS' inaugural Alliance of American Football telecast featuring the San Diego Fleet at the San Antonio Commanders and the Atlanta Legends at the Orlando Apollos.

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of February last year, the Feb. 9 telecast is up +2% in metered-market households (4.7 vs. 4.6).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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