or


[12/15/19 - 08:44 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: Holiday Classics Put CBS in Front
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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/14/19):

CBS (2.719 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its holiday mix of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (3.058 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1), "Frosty the Snowman" (3.057 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1), "Frosty Returns" (2.307 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "48 Hours" (2.417 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6).

Second place then went to NBC (2.047 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) and its lineup of "How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming" (1.347 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12), "DreamWorks Trolls Holiday" (1.443 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (2.492 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (2.255 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

Next up was FOX (1.657 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) with repeats of "The Masked Singer" (1.517 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) and another "The Masked Singer" (1.797 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6).

And finally, ABC (1.488 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) closed out the night with encores of "The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!" (1.385 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) and "20/20 Saturday" (1.696 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6).

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

· The Dec. 14 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Scarlett Johansson and musical guest Niall Horan, has averaged a 4.0 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. 5 due to changes in Nielsen methodology.

· Versus primetime programming on the Big 4 networks last night, "SNL" is easily the #1 show of the night in metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters,

· In fact, "Saturday Night Live" doubled the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 in both measures (4.0 vs. 2.0 for CBS' encore of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in households, 1.7 vs. 0.8 each for "Rudolph" and CBS' rebroadcast of "Frosty the Snowman" in 18-49).


Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/15/18):

FOX (2.153 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) snagged the demo crown on Saturday with its presentation of "UFC on FOX" (2.153 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

CBS (3.708 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) then was the most-watched broadcaster with its mix of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.011 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7), "48 Hours" (3.613 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) and a new "48 Hours" (4.499 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1).

Next up was NBC (3.014 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) with its lineup of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.327 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5), another "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.021 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.696 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

And finally, a rebroadcast of "The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition" (1.844 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) and a new "The Alec Baldwin Show" (0.983 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #9) rounded out the night on ABC (1.557 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4).

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

· The Dec. 15 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Matt Damon and musical guests Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, 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 2.0/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.8 rating in metered-market households is "SNL's" high since the show's Sept. 29 season premiere (also a 4.8, with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West) and equals the show's best since Jan. 27 (4.9 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Christ Stapleton).

· The Dec. 15 "Saturday Night Live" easily ranks as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, topping all primetime shows on those nets in both categories. The 2.0 rating in 18-49 in the local people meters nearly triples the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 (0.7 for the 10 p.m. "SNL Vintage" encore).

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of December last year, the Dec. 15 telecast is up +7% in metered-market households (4.8 vs. 4.5) and up +5% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.0 vs. 1.9 for December 2017 originals).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [october 2025]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 11:28 AM]
"High Potential" Rises to Season High as Show Nears Fall Finale
ABC's popular drama rose to a multiplatform season high in Total Viewers (12.50 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.31 rating) after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[10/22/25 - 03:06 PM]
FOX Sports Delivers Most-Watched ALCS Game Since 2017
9,028,000 viewers tuned in across FOX, FS1, FOX Deportes & FOX Sports streaming services for the Toronto Blue Jays' ALCS Game 7 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

[10/22/25 - 08:07 AM]
ESPN College Football on ABC Delivers Top Three Games Across All Networks for Saturday, Oct. 18 - Off to Best Start Since '09
Coverage of Ole Miss at Georgia averaged 9.8 million viewers.

[10/22/25 - 08:03 AM]
FOX NFL's America's Game of the Week Delivers 25,630,000 Average Viewers for Commanders-Cowboys
Season-to-date, the NFL on FOX is off to its best start to the season since 2014, averaging 19,646,000 viewers and up +4% over last year's season-to-date average.

[10/22/25 - 07:44 AM]
"9-1-1: Nashville" Debuts with Over 12 Million Total Audience to Date
The star-studded, high-octane first-responder drama delivered 7.80 million Total Viewers and 1.51 rating among Adults 18-49, excluding encores.

[10/22/25 - 06:21 AM]
ABC's Telecast of Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix Draws Event's Largest TV Audience on Record
Viewership peaked at 1.6 million between 4:15-4:30 p.m. as Max Verstappen drove to victory, further tightening up the battle for the F1 driver's championship with only five races left in the season.

[10/21/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of October 13: "The Woman in Cabin 10" Sails Smoothly to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
In the final stretch to Halloween, those lured in by the story of the OG horror villain put "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" at No. 1 on the English TV list with 9.5 million views.

[10/17/25 - 01:16 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Hits Season Highs with Best Audience Performance Since July
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 139 consecutive weeks across all key measures.

[10/17/25 - 10:38 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues Historic Hot Streak - Rising for Fourth Straight Week Since Premiere with 6 Million Total Viewers
Plus: "High Potential" dominated the 10 p.m. hour with 4.15 million Total Viewers and a 0.33 rating among Adults 18-49.

[10/16/25 - 06:01 AM]
ESPN's Monumental 2025 WNBA Season Sets New Viewership Records
Across all networks, the 2025 WNBA Postseason was the most-viewed since 1999.

[10/15/25 - 04:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's No. 1 Program on Broadcast TV
"20/20" increased its lead week to week over "Dateline" in Total Viewers to post its largest of the season.

[10/15/25 - 04:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 3rd Straight Week
"Nightline" saw double-digit gains in the year-ago week in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[10/14/25 - 03:06 PM]
ESPN Records the Most-Watched WNBA Postseason Ever Across Its Networks
Across 24 games, the '25 WNBA postseason averaged 1.2 million viewers, up 5% from last year.

[10/14/25 - 03:03 PM]
"College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Delivers Most-Watched West Coast Episode Ever; ESPN College Football on ABC Scores Top Three Programs Across All Networks and Content for Saturday, Oct. 11
The Texas Longhorns' upset victory over the Oklahoma Sooners averaged 8.7 million viewers.