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[03/16/20 - 06:50 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: "48 Hours" Tops Viewers, Demos on Low Key Night
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 eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (3/14/20):

CBS (3.214 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #3) was the most-watched network on Saturday with its mix of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.198 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4), "SEAL Team" (2.912 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) and "48 Hours" (3.533 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1).

NBC (2.023 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) and ABC (2.254 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) shared the demo crown as the former offered up the feature "The Fate of the Furious" (2.023 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) while the latter opted for repeats of "Shark Tank" (2.571 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) and "American Idol" (2.096 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4).

And finally, encores of "The Masked Singer" (1.322 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) and "LEGO Masters" (0.888 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) rounded out the night on FOX (1.105 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4).

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

TBA


Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/16/19):

NBC (3.863 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) was the top draw on a modest Saturday with "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.282 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (3.023 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1).

ABC (2.299 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) then shared in the demo honors with the finales to "NBA Countdown" (2.081 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.343 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1).

Next up was CBS (2.212 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and its mix of "One Night for One Drop: Imagined by Cirque du Soleil" (1.603 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "Ransom" (1.827 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "48 Hours" (3.207 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

And finally, FOX (1.137 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the night with "NCAA Men's Basketball Overrun" (1.432 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4), a repeat "MasterChef Junior" (0.811 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9) and a second "MasterChef Junior" (0.875 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9).

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

· A March 16 encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Matt Damon and musical guests Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, has averaged a 3.1 rating, 9 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 0.9/6 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 3.1 in households makes this the #2 highest-rated regular-slot "SNL" encore of the season , behind only the 3.2 for the Jan. 12 rebroadcast, hosted by Steve Carell with musical guest Ella Mai (excludes a 3.2 for a one-hour 11:30-12:30 Halloween special on Oct. 27, 2018).

· The March 16 "Saturday Night Live" is tied as the #1 non-sports show of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, tying NBC's "Dateline Mystery" for #1 in metered-market households and ABC's Warriors-Thunder NBA basketball for #1 in 18-49 in the local people meters..

· The March 16 rebroadcast is up +11% versus "SNL's" March 2018 average for encores in metered-market households (3.1 vs. 2.8).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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