or


[02/09/20 - 08:56 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBA Tops Demos for ABC; NBC Leads Total Viewers
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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (2/8/20):

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

ABC (2.161 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) led the low key demo race with "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.161 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1).

FOX (1.750 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) was a close second with encores of "The Masked Singer" (1.973 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) and "LEGO Masters" (1.528 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

Next up was NBC (3.134 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.205 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5), a second "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.553 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (2.644 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

And finally, rounding out the night with CBS (2.693 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) and its mix of "Tommy" (2.573 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8), "48 Hours" (2.158 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) and a new "48 Hours" (3.350 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

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

· The Feb. 8 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host RuPaul and musical guest Justin Bieber, has averaged a 4.3 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.3 in households ties last night's "Saturday Night Live" as the #2 highest-rated "SNL" in metered-market households among the 12 originals that have aired since Nielsen changed its methodology Oct. 5, ranking behind only the high-rated Dec. 21 telecast hosted by Eddie Murphy with musical guest Lizzo (6.7). "SNL" also generated a 4.3 on Nov. 23 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest King Princess.

· 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 seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/9/19):

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

CBS (3.002 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its inaugural coverage of the "Alliance of American Football" (3.002 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1).

ABC (2.370 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was a close second with its weekly "NBA Countdown" (2.031 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.438 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2).

Next up was NBC (3.339 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with an encore of "America's Got Talent: The Champions" (3.562 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.891 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

And finally on FOX (1.090 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4), repeats of "9-1-1" (1.386 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #6) and "The Passage" (0.793 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #7) rounded out the evening.

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

· The Feb. 9 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Halsey, averaged a 4.7 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· These are the show's second highest metered-market ratings since "SNL's" Sept. 29, 2018 season premiere, trailing over that span only the Dec. 15, 2018 edition (hosted by Matt Damon with musical guests Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, 4.8 in metered-market households, 2.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters). The season premiere, with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West, earned a 4.8 in households and a 2.3 in 18-49.

· The Feb. 9 "Saturday Night Live" 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, including ABC's primetime Thunder-Rockets NBA Basketball coverage and CBS' inaugural Alliance of American Football telecast featuring the San Diego Fleet at the San Antonio Commanders and the Atlanta Legends at the Orlando Apollos.

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of February last year, the Feb. 9 telecast is up +2% in metered-market households (4.7 vs. 4.6).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [may 2026]  
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
[05/20/26 - 07:36 AM]
After Record-Setting 2025 Season, "Sunday Night Football" Finishes Fall-Spring TV Season as Primetime's No. 1 Show for Unprecedented 15th Consecutive Year
The series averaged 23.5 million viewers in 2025, marking the show's best-ever viewership - up nearly 1 million viewers from the prior record for the series set a decade ago (22.6 million in 2015 season) and an increase of 9% over the '24 season (21.6 million).

[05/19/26 - 02:52 PM]
Subway Series Delivers Second Most-Watched FOX Saturday Baseball Telecast of the Season
2,500,000 viewers tuned-in to the two-game slate highlighted by the Mets' 6-3 victory over the Yankees in most of the country.

[05/19/26 - 02:01 PM]
Netflix Viewership Peaks with Nearly 17 Million Global Viewers for MVP MMA's Rousey vs. Carano, Averaging 12.4 Million Viewers Across the Triple Main Event
In the US, the triple-main card averaged 9.3 million viewers, peaking at 11.6 million viewers during Rousey vs. Carano.

[05/19/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 11 - "The Roast of Kevin Hart" Heats Up to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
True crime audiences also streamed the second season of "Worst Ex Ever," which rose to the No. 2 spot on the English TV list with 8.1 million views.

[05/19/26 - 07:07 AM]
TNT Sports Posts Its Most-Watched NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round Ever
Thursday's Game 5 of the Montreal/Buffalo series averaged 1.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched, Second Round, Game 5 on cable ever featuring a Canadian team.

[05/18/26 - 04:03 PM]
"The Rookie" Season 8 Finale Surges to Over 9 Million Total Viewers
Setting new records with its exceptional momentum this season, "The Rookie" finale earned an all-time streaming high for the series based on views over seven days on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

[05/15/26 - 02:03 PM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers on Sunday Morning, in Late-Night and on Friday Night
"20/20" saw week-to-week increases in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting 4-week highs in both measures.

[05/14/26 - 10:07 AM]
"Rooster" Capped Off a Standout First Season, Becoming HBO's Most-Watched Comedy Debut in Over 15 Years
The series is averaging 6.5 million U.S. viewers per episode, with the finale reaching 2.2 million viewers in its first three days.

[05/14/26 - 10:01 AM]
Home Run! ESPN Scores Most-Consumed College Softball Regular Season on Record
The 2026 campaign featured four of ESPN's eight most-watched regular season games of all-time and delivered a record-high 10 games with more than 500,000 viewers.

[05/13/26 - 10:30 AM]
Viewership for 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Presentation on ABC Up 23 Percent Year Over Year
ESPN's presentation of the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, May 10, on ABC averaged 2.3 million viewers.

[05/13/26 - 07:56 AM]
ESPN Networks Delivered Second Most-Watched WNBA Regular-Season Game Ever with Dallas Wings vs Indiana Fever on May 9
ESPN today announced that the Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever matchup on May 9 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC averaged 2.5 million viewers, making it the second most-watched WNBA regular-season game across ESPN networks ever.

[05/12/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 4 - The Critters of "Swapped" Soar to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
The pursuit of justice is action-packed in "Man on Fire," which set the English TV list ablaze at No. 1 with 12.6 million views.

[05/08/26 - 09:18 AM]
TNT Sports Delivers Its Most-Watched MLB Regular Season Start Since 2015
The Yankees/Mariners season opener on March 31 delivered 562,000 viewers and peaked at 735,000, making it the most watched opener on TBS since 2012.

[05/06/26 - 10:01 AM]
Strong Month of Sports Propels ESPN Studio Shows to Record Viewership for April
The entire lineup of ESPN studio shows was up 21% overall in viewership over April of 2025 and up 10% year-over-year (YOY) in the coveted Persons ages 18-49 demographic.

[05/05/26 - 03:52 PM]
ESPN Networks Aired Its Most Viewed First Round of the Current Rights Deal of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
ESPN also delivered three of the top five matchups in the First Round including the Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins Game 1 (2.1 million viewers).