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 (10/17/20):

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

CBS (9.013 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) got a boost on Saturday thanks to its special presentation of "College Football: Georgia at Alabama" (9.013 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1).

ABC (2.165 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) had to settle for the silver with its weekly "Saturday Night Football" (2.165 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2).

Next up was NBC (1.956 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #3) with repeats of "Weakest Link" (2.046 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3), "Ellen's Game of Games" (1.799 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (2.022 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3).

And finally, rebroadcasts of "The Masked Singer" (0.727 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.1, #7) and "I Can See Your Voice" (0.799 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.2, #6) on FOX (0.763 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) rounded out the night.

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

The Oct. 17 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Issa Rae and musical guest Justin Bieber, has averaged a 4.5 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

The 4.5 in metered-market households is up +15% versus "SNL's" 3.9 average last October. In 18-49, the local-market 2.0 is up +18% versus the 1.7 average for October 2019.

The 4.5 in households tops 15 of the 17 originals measured last season under Nielsen's current metered-market methodology (effective beginning Oct. 5, 2019), trailing over that span only the historic Dec. 21, 2019 telecast hosted by Eddie Murphy with musical guest Lizzo (6.7) and the April 11 first "At Home" edition of "SNL" (4.6). The 2.0 in 18-49 would tie as #3 among last season's 17 originals, again behind only the Dec. 21 and April 11 telecasts.

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

ABC (6.250 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) led the network race on Saturday with its weekly coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (6.250 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

NBC (1.925 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) and FOX (1.856 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) then shared the silver as the latter opted for repeats of "The Masked Singer" (1.664 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) and "The Masked Singer" (2.048 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with the Peacock serving up the feature "Jurassic World" (1.925 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

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

· An Oct. 19 encore edition of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Woody Harrelson and featuring musical guest Billie Eilish, has averaged a 2.4 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.

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

· Versus primetime programming on the Big 4 networks Saturday night, the "SNL" rebroadcast is the #2 show of the night in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, behind only ABC's Michigan-Penn State college football.

Source: Nielsen Media Research