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 (5/16/15):

CBS (4.688 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its mix of "NCIS: New Orleans" (4.184 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) and "CSI: Cyber" (3.957 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) repeats followed by a new "48 Hours" (5.925 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

The silver then went to ABC (2.861 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) with its specials "Dancing with the Stars: Road to the Finals" (3.782 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6) and "Countdown to the 2015 Billboard Music Awards" (2.276 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #8) alongside a repeat "Shark Tank" (2.525 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was NBC (2.264 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) with encores of "The Voice" (2.182 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.428 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

And finally, second runs of "Hell's Kitchen" (0.931 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9) and "Bones" (1.295 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9) closed out the night on FOX (1.113 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4).

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

· "Saturday Night Live," with host Louis C.K. and musical guest Rihanna (3.8 rating, 10 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets, 1.8/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters) matched the show's highest household rating in the metered markets since March 7 (4.0/10 with host Chris Hemsworth and musical guest Zac Brown Band), equaling over that span the April 11 edition (3.8/10 with host Taraji P. Henson and musical guest Mumford & Sons).

· This week's "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 those nets in that key measure. "SNL"s 1.8 tripled the highest 18-49 rating among primetime Big 4 programs in those markets last night (0.6 by four different telecasts).

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals this season growing by an average of +43% going from "live plus same day ratings" to "live plus seven day" in national adult 18-49 rating (from a 1.91 rating to a 2.74).

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/17/14):

NBC (4.375 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) was the top draw on the final Saturday of the May sweeps period with "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.901 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) and a repeat of "Saturday Night Live" (3.325 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1).

CBS (3.140 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) then claimed the silver with repeats of "2 Broke Girls" (2.247 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5), "Friends with Better Lives" (1.837 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), "48 Hours" (2.488 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T5) and a new "48 Hours" (4.891 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

Next up was ABC (2.430 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) with a rebroadcast of "Spider-Man 2.1" (2.430 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4).

And finally, encores of "Kitchen Nightmares" (1.339 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and "The Following" (0.787 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #9) on FOX (1.063 million viewers, #4; 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 Andy Samberg and musical guest St. Vincent, averaged a 4.0/10 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 metered-market households and in 18-49 in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in both measures.

·It's the top "Saturday Night Live" in metered-market households since April 5 (with host Anna Kendrick and musical guest Pharrell, 4.0/10) and equals the "SNL" high since March 8 (with host Lena Dunham and musical guest The National, 4.1/11).

·In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, this week's 2.1 rating is the show's high since April 12 (with host Seth Rogen and musical guest Ed Sheeran, 2.1/10) and matches the high since April 5 (with host Anna Kendrick and musical guest Pharrell, 2.2/10).

Source: Nielsen Media Research