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 (2/28/15):

CBS (4.947 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (4.217 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3), "48 Hours" (4.976 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) and a new "48 Hours" (5.648 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

NBC (1.553 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then claimed the silver with its coverage of "NHL Regular Season: Rangers at Flyers" (1.553 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

Next up was ABC (2.333 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its combination of "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars" (2.317 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6), "Shania: Still the One" (2.600 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and "Forever" (2.082 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6).

And finally, repeats of "Backstrom" (1.617 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Sleepy Hollow" (1.127 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) closed out the evening on FOX (1.372 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4).

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

·"Saturday Night Live," with host Dakota Johnson and musical guest Alabama Shakes, averaged a 3.8 rating, 9 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.9/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters,

·"SNL" is the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in that key measure. "SNL's" margin over the night's #2 show in 18-49 was +171% (1.9 vs. 0.7 for CBS's "48 Hours" in the Local People Meters).

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/1/14):

NBC (2.869 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) was the top demo draw on Saturday with its coverage of "NHL Regular Season: Penguins at Blackhawks" (2.869 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

Sharing the adults 18-49 crown as ABC (2.332 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) with the feature "The Social Network" (2.450 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) followed by a repeat of "The Goldbergs" (1.747 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

Next up was CBS (3.851 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with second runs of "Two and a Half Men" (3.340 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4), "The Crazy Ones" (2.245 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "Person of Interest" (3.350 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6) plus a new "48 Hours" (5.412 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

And finally, encores of "Almost Human" (1.735 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "The Following" (1.171 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #9) on FOX (1.453 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the night.

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

·From 11:45 p.m.-1:15 a.m. ET, "Saturday Night Live," with host Jim Parsons and musical guest Back, averaged a 4.6/12 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 2.6/11 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. Note that last night's "SNL" was delayed by a primetime hockey overrun.

Source: Nielsen Media Research