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[05/10/20 - 09:15 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: "Saturday Night Live" Finale Leads the Night for NBC
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 seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (5/9/20):

NBC (3.415 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1) was the network to beat on another low key Saturday with "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.735 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) and "SNL Vintage" (2.776 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1).

The silver went to CBS (3.073 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #2) with repeats of "NCIS: New Orleans" (3.063 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) and "SWAT" (2.615 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) plus a new "48 Hours" (3.542 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3).

Next up was FOX (0.996 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.2, #3) and its special "WWE's Greatest Ladder Matches" (0.996 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.2, #6).

And rounding out the night was "ESPN on ABC Presents: 2016 NBA Finals Game 7 - Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors" (0.850 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.1, #7) on ABC (0.850 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.1, #4).

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

· The May 9 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with remote performances from self-isolating guests and members of the cast, and featuring host Kristen Wiig and musical guest Boyz II Men, has averaged a 3.7 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.5 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, 2019 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 (5/11/19):

NBC (2.279 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its primetime coverage of the "NHL Playoffs: Blues at Sharks" (2.279 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1).

ABC (2.230 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) then was the number two network with encores of "American Idol" (2.067 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) and "20/20 Saturday" (2.556 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

Next up was CBS (2.176 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) and its original lineup of "Million Dollar Mile" (1.658 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4), "Ransom" (2.048 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) and "48 Hours" (2.821 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

And finally, FOX (1.207 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) closed out the night with its latest installment of "Premier Boxing Champions Fight Night" (1.207 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4).

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

· The May 11 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Emma Thompson and musical guest Jonas Brothers, averaged a 4.2 rating, 10 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.5/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The May 11 "Saturday Night Live" ranks as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters. In metered-market households, "Saturday Night Live" topped the #2 Big 4 telecast of the night, CBS' "48 Hours," by a +75% margin (4.2 vs. 2.4).

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live" performed in line with "SNL" originals for the month of May last year, which averaged a 4.3 in metered-market households.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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