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[11/01/20 - 11:11 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: College Football Sparks Another ABC Victory
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 (10/31/20):

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

ABC (5.632 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) was back on top on Saturday with its coverage of "Saturday Night Football" (5.632 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1).

FOX (2.484 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) was the silver draw with its own telecast of "CFB on FOX" (2.484 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2).

Next up was NBC (2.126 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with its lineup of "Weakest Link" (2.127 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4), "Ellen's Game of Games" (2.066 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and "SNL Vintage" (2.184 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4).

And finally, CBS (1.882 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the night with its trio of "Manhunt: Deadly Games" (1.588 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7), another "Manhunt: Deadly Games" (1.511 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) and "48 Hours" (2.545 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4).

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

· The Oct. 31 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host John Mulaney and musical guest The Strokes, has averaged a 4.7 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.2 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.7 in metered-market households is up +21% versus "SNL's" 3.9 average last October. In 18-49, the local-market 2.2 is up +29% versus the 1.7 average for October 2019.

· The Oct. 31 "Saturday Night Live" is tied as the #4 highest-rated "SNL" in metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters among the 22 originals that have aired since Nielsen changed its methodology Oct. 5, 2019, ranking behind only last week's episode (5.0 in households, 2.4 in 18-49 with host Adele and musical guest H.E.R.), the high-rated Oct. 3 season premiere (5.6 in households, 2.9 in 18-49 with host Chris Rock and musical guest Megan Thee Stallion) and the historic Dec. 21, 2019 telecast hosted by Eddie Murphy with musical guest Lizzo (6.7 in households, 3.4 in 18-49).

· The 4.7 in households and 2.2 in 18-49 tops 16 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 Eddie Murphy telecast (6.7 in households, 3.4 in 18-49).

· Versus primetime programming on the Big 4 networks last night, "SNL" is the #1 show of the night in metered-market households (4.7 vs. 4.4 for the #2 show, ABC's Ohio State-Penn State college football).


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/2/19):

ABC (2.933 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was still the demo champ on Saturday with its presentation of "Saturday Night College Football" (2.933 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1).

FOX (2.807 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was a close second with its "CFB on FOX" (2.807 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) coverage.

Next up was CBS (3.069 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) with repeats of "Bull" (2.976 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "NCIS: Los Angeles" (2.645 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) plus a new "48 Hours" (3.586 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, NBC (2.449 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) closed out the night with its mix of "2019 Breeders' Cup" (2.082 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (2.836 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and a vintage "SNL Vintage" (2.429 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

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

· The Nov. 2 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Kristen Stewart and musical guest Coldplay, has averaged a 4.1 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.

· Note that current metered-market results are not compatible with data issued before Oct. 12 due to changes in Nielsen methodology.

· "Saturday Night Live" grew +8% versus the metered-market household rating for its prior two originals (3.8 each on Oct. 26 and Oct. 12), making this the highest "SNL" household rating since Nielsen changed its methodology starting with Oct. 12 results. In adult 18-49 rating in the local people meters, the Nov. 2 "SNL" equaled its 1.7 rating of both Oct. 26 and Oct. 12).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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