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[05/03/20 - 09:09 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC Tops Low Key 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 eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (5/2/20):

NBC (3.091 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #1) was the victor on a low key Saturday with its presentations of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.415 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) and "SNL Vintage" (2.443 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3).

A close second was CBS (3.020 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) with its mix of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (2.704 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T5), "SEAL Team" (2.406 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T5) and "48 Hours" (3.949 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1).

Next up was ABC (1.669 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) with encores of "Shark Tank" (2.098 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and "American Idol" (1.455 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T5).

And finally, FOX (0.803 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.1, #4) closed out the night with "Greatest Games: Super Bowl LIV: San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs" (0.803 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.1, #8).

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

· A May 2 encore edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Daniel Craig and musical guest The Weeknd, has averaged a 2.8 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 0.8 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Versus primetime programming on the Big 4 networks Saturday night, the "SNL" rebroadcast is the #1 show of the night in 18-49 rating in the local people meters.

· In metered-market households, it's the top "SNL" rebroadcast since March 21 (2.9 with host JJ Watt and musical guest Luke Combs).

· 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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/4/19):

ABC (5.318 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) pulled in front on Saturday with its presentation of "NBA Countdown" (4.222 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) and the "NBA Playoffs: Warriors at Rockets" (5.537 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1).

The silver then went to NBC (3.724 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) with the primetime portion of the "NHL Playoffs: Blue Jackets at Bruins" (4.127 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.918 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4).

Next up was CBS (2.276 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #3) with the return of "Million Dollar Mile" (1.689 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T6) followed by new episodes of "Ransom" (2.139 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T6) and "48 Hours" (3.001 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5).

And finally, FOX (1.075 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) closed out the night with encores of "MasterChef Junior" (1.037 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T6) and "9-1-1" (1.112 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T6).

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

· The May 4 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Adam Sandler and musical guest Shawn Mendes, averaged a 4.8 rating, 12 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.8/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.8 rating in metered-market households equals "SNL's" season high and best in 15 months, since Jan. 27, 2018 (4.9 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Chris Stapleton). "SNL" also earned 4.8s earlier this season on Dec. 15, 2018 with host Matt Damon and musical guests Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, and with the Sept. 29, 2018 season premiere with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West.

· In 18-49 in the local people meters, the 1.8 is "SNL's" best since March 2 (1.9 with host John Mulaney and musical guest Thomas Rhett

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of May last year, the May 4 telecast is up +12% in metered-market households (4.8 vs. 4.3).

· The May 4 "Saturday Night Live" ranks as the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters behind only ABC's Warriors-Rockets NBA Playoffs. In fact, in 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" trails only two primetime entertainment program on the Big 4 nets so far this week, NBC's "2019 Billboard Music Awards" (2.4) and CBS' "Big Bang Theory" (2.1), while tying ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (1.8).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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