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 (3/28/15):

CBS (4.154 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) was the most-watched network on Saturday with its repeat lineup of "NCIS: New Orleans" (3.650 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6), "Criminal Minds" (4.132 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) and "48 Hours" (4.682 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1).

ABC (3.138 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) however shared in the demo honors with a repeat "Shark Tank" (2.653 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) and a new "In an Instant" (3.380 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1).

Next up was NBC (2.284 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its coverage of "The World Figure Skating Championships" (2.309 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and a repeat "Saturday Night Live" (2.234 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4).

And finally, encores of "Backstrom" (1.409 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "Hell's Kitchen" (1.038 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) on FOX (1.223 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening.

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

· "Saturday Night Live," with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest George Ezra, averaged a 3.7 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 metered-market households and adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in both measures. In the Local People Meters, "SNL" more than doubled the 18-49 rating of every primetime telecast on those networks.

· Note that "SNL" adds substantial audience via time-shifting, with the show's national adult 18-49 rating growing this season by an average of +37% going from "live plus same day" results to "live plus seven day" ratings from Nielsen Media Research (1.93 to 2.64, originals only).

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/29/14):

NBC (4.075 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with a new "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.800 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1) and a rebroadcast of "Saturday Night Live" (2.625 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3).

CBS (3.062 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then claimed the silver with repeats of "2 Broke Girls" (2.651 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and "Mom" (2.495 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) followed by "48 Hours" (2.599 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4) and a second "48 Hours" (4.016 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T1).

Next up was ABC (2.155 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with second runs of "Mixology" (1.332 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10), another "Mixology" (1.111 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) plus new episodes of "20/20 Saturday" (2.311 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #8) and "Nightline Prime" (2.933 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T4).

And finally, repeats of "Almost Human" (1.534 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9) and "The Following" (1.006 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) on FOX (1.270 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night.

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

·"Saturday Night Live," with host Louis C.K. and musical guest Sam Smith, averaged a 4.0/10 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 2.1/9 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 metered-market households and 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in both categories.

Source: Nielsen Media Research