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 (4/4/15):

ABC (3.659 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) claimed the demo crown on Saturday with a repeat of "Shark Tank" (2.880 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and a new "In an Instant" (4.049 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1).

CBS (3.775 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then took home the silver with repeats of "NCIS" (3.681 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "Scorpion" (3.549 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) and a new "48 Hours" (4.095 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2).

Next up was NBC (1.764 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with encores of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.751 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "The Blacklist" (1.536 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #10) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.007 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

And finally, second runs of "Backstrom" (1.155 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Hell's Kitchen" (1.042 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) on FOX (1.098 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the evening.

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

· "Saturday Night Live," with host Michael Keaton and musical guest Carly Rae Jepsen, 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" nearly tripled the 18-49 rating of the top primetime telecast on those networks (2.0 vs. 0.7 for ABC's "In an Instant").

· "Saturday Night Live," (3.7/9 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets, 2.0/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meter) matched its highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters since Jan. 31 (2.1/10 with host J.K. Simmons and musical guest D'Angelo and The Vanguard), equaling over that span the March 7 edition (2.0/10 with host Chris Hemsworth and musical guest Zac Brown Band).

· Note that "SNL" adds substantial audience via time-shifting, with the show's national adult 18-49 rating growing this season by +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 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/5/14):

NBC (4.167 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its mix of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (5.012 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.479 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

CBS (3.370 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) then served up repeats of "Person of Interest" (2.486 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7) and "Criminal Minds" (3.119 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) followed by a new "48 Hours" (4.505 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was ABC (2.319 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) with a repeat of "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" (1.495 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) alongside installments of "20/20 Saturday" (2.269 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and "Nightline Prime" (3.195 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

And finally, FOX (1.020 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) closed out the evening with special Saturday editions of "Rake" (1.000 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9) and another "Rake" (1.040 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9).

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

·"Saturday Night Live," with host Anna Kendrick and musical guest Pharrell, averaged a 4.0/10 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 2.2/10 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 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