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

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (8/30/14):

The return of "Saturday Night Football" (5.438 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) put ABC (5.438 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) on top on Saturday.

NBC (3.782 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was a distant second place with a two-hour "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.164 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) and a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.020 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4).

Next up was CBS (3.509 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with special Saturday editons of "Unforgettable" (4.349 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and "Reckless" (2.895 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4) plus a repeat "48 Hours" (3.284 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4).

And finally, "College Football on FOX" (0.920 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #7) closed out the evening on FOX (0.920 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4).

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

·An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Lady Gaga, averaged a 2.3/6 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 0.8/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, to rank as the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the Local People Meters. "SNL" matched the metered-market household rating of the previous week and the same night last year.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/31/13):

ABC (7.379 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) closed out August on top with its coverage of "College Football: Georgia at Clemson " (7.379 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1).

CBS (3.813 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) then was the number two draw with repeats of "Mike & Molly" (2.191 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10), "Two and a Half Men" (2.363 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10), "48 Hours" (4.041 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) and another "48 Hours" (5.121 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was NBC (1.811 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) with a rebroadcast of "American Ninja Warrior" (2.098 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) followed by a new "Do No Harm" (1.585 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and a second "Do No Harm" (1.752 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5).

And finally, FOX (1.932 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the night with its departing lineup of "Cops" (1.940 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5), another "Cops" (2.052 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and "Bones" (1.869 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5).

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

·An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Peyton Manning and musical guest Carrie Underwood, averaged a 2.3/6 in metered-market households. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.0 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" posted the top non-sports rating of the night among CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, out-rating all primetime entertainment programming on those networks.

Source: Nielsen Media Research