Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (3/8/14):

NBC (4.516 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) pulled into the top spot on Saturday with the debut of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (5.177 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1) followed by a repeat of "Saturday Night Live" (3.195 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1).

Second place then went to CBS (3.024 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) with encores of "The Amazing Race" (1.853 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), another "The Amazing Race" (2.086 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) and a new "48 Hours" (5.133 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3).

Next up was FOX (1.559 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) with second runs of "Almost Human" (1.896 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "The Following" (1.222 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8).

And finally, rebroadcasts of "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars" (1.975 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6), "Once Upon a Time" (1.246 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and another "Once Upon a Time" (1.371 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) on ABC (1.530 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) closed out the night.

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

· "Saturday Night Live," with host Lena Dunham and musical guest The National, averaged a 4.1/11 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 2.1/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, making it the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/9/13):

FOX (2.652 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the top demo draw on a low-key Saturday thanks to its mix of a new "Cops" (3.341 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) followed by repeats of "Cops" (3.530 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) and "The Following" (1.869 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7).

CBS (4.546 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) then was the most-watched network with encores of "Person of Interest" (4.042 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) and "48 Hours" (4.134 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) plus a new "48 Hours" (5.463 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3).

Next up was ABC (3.391 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) with rebroadcasts of "Once Upon a Time" (0.000 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) and a two-hour "20/20" (0.000 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4).

And finally, NBC (2.156 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night with its mix of "American Ninja Warrior" (2.176 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7), "Chicago Fire" (1.878 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and a primetime "Saturday Night Live" (2.414 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4).

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

* "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Justin Timberlake, averaged a 5.9/15 in metered-market households, the show's top overnights in 14 months, since January 7, 2012 (with host Charles Barkley and musical guest Kelly Clarkson on the night of a primetime NFL playoff game). "SNL" scored the #1 rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in metered-market households, topping all primetime telecasts on those networks.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 3.7 rating, 18 share in adults 18-49, the show's highest result in the LPMs since January 7, 2012. "SNL" delivered the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, more than tripling the result of each primetime program on those networks.

* Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 37 percent in metered-market households (with a 5.9 rating vs. a 4.3) and up 42 percent in 18-49 rating in the 25 Local People Meter markets (3.7 vs. 2.6). Last night's telecast featured appearances by Dan Aykroyd, Alec Baldwin, Candice Bergen, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Martin Short and Paul Simon.

Source: Nielsen Media Research