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[02/16/20 - 08:53 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS Tops Viewers; Shares Demo Crown with FOX
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 (2/15/20):

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

CBS (2.588 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T1) was the top draw on Saturday with its mix of "God Friended Me" (1.899 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T4), "NCIS: New Orleans" (2.412 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2) and "48 Hours" (3.453 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #1).

FOX (1.509 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T1) shared in the demo honors with a new installment of "FOX PBC Fight Night" (1.509 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T2).

Next up was ABC (1.955 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T3) and its marathon of "The Rookie" (1.977 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T4), another "The Rookie" (1.896 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T4) and yet another "The Rookie" (1.992 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T4).

And finally, NBC (1.002 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T3) closed out the night with its coverage of "NHL: Los Angeles at Colorado" (1.002 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T4).

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

· A Feb. 15 encore edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Eddie Murphy and musical guest Lizzo, has averaged a 2.9 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.0 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

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

· It's the #2 highest-rated "Saturday Night Live" encore in metered-market households among the eight aired in this timeslot since Nielsen revised its metered-market methodology on Oct. 5, 2019, trailing over that span only the Jan. 11 rebroadcast (3.1 in metered-market households with host and musical guest Harry Styles).

· 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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/16/19):

ABC (2.796 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) was the most-watched network on a modest Saturday with its mix of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (2.742 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3), another "America's Funniest Home Videos" (2.561 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "20/20 Saturday" (3.084 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2).

NBC (2.634 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) then shared in the demo honors with an encore of "America's Got Talent: The Champions" (2.596 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.710 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1).

Next up was CBS (2.283 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and a rebroadcast of "The World's Best" (1.906 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) followed by the return of "Ransom" (2.175 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) and a new "48 Hours" (2.766 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6).

And finally, FOX (1.257 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the evening with its presentation of "Premier Boxing Champions" (1.257 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6).

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

· The Feb. 16 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Don Cheadle and musical guest Gary Clark Jr., averaged a 4.3 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.6/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The Feb. 16 "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, easily topping all primetime shows on those nets.

· "Saturday Night Live" nearly doubled the #2 Big 4 telecast of the night in metered-market households (4.3 vs. 2.2 for ABC's "20/20 Saturday"). In 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" more than doubled the #2 show (1.6 vs. 0.7 for the 10 p.m. "SNL Vintage" encore).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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