Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (2/29/20):

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

ABC (2.024 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) held onto the demo crown on Saturday with its presentation of "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.024 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1).

The silver went to CBS (2.897 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with its mix of "FBI: Most Wanted" (2.571 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6), "Bull" (2.660 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) and "48 Hours" (3.461 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

Next up was FOX (0.805 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with the primetime portion of its "MLS Soccer" (0.805 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) coverage.

And finally, NBC (2.873 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) closed out the night with "The Voice" (2.557 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.491 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) and "SNL Vintage" (2.570 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3).

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

· The Feb. 29 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host John Mulaney and musical guest David Byrne, has averaged a 4.0 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.7 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Versus primetime programming on the Big 4 networks last night, "SNL" is easily the #1 show of the night in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters.

· 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 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/1/19):

ABC (2.867 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its weekly coverage of "NBA Countdown" (2.365 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.968 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

NBC (3.702 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was the silver draw with its mix of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.853 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4), a second hour of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.297 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.955 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3).

Next up was CBS (3.127 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its lineup of "Ransom" (2.725 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), a repeat "Magnum, P.I." (2.529 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "48 Hours" (4.128 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4).

And finally, FOX (1.341 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening with repeats of "9-1-1" (1.452 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Proven Innocent" (1.230 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #10).

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

·The March 2 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host John Mulaney and musical guest Thomas Rhett, 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.

·"SNL" matched the show's second highest metered-market ratings since the show'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. Lasts night's results were matched on Feb. 9 (4.7 in metered-market households, 1.9 in 18-49 in the LPMs with host and musical guest Halsey).

·The March 2 "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 Warriors-76ers NBA Basketball coverage.

·Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of March last year, the Feb. 9 telecast is up +9% in metered-market households (4.7 vs. 4.3) and up +6% in 18-49 in the local people meters (1.9 vs. 1.8 for March 2018 originals).

Source: Nielsen Media Research