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

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/19/15):

ABC (6.706 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T1) was the most-watched network on Saturday with its coverage of "New Hampshire: The Democrats Debate" (6.706 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2).

CBS (5.386 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T1) then shared in the demo crown with repeats of "NCIS" (5.153 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4), "Criminal Minds" (5.202 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) and "48 Hours" (5.804 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1).

Next up was FOX (2.379 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) and its presentation of "UFC Fight Night 17" (2.379 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4).

And finally, an encore of "The Wiz Live!" (1.586 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #6) on NBC (1.586 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the night.

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

· The Dec. 19 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with hosts Tina Fey & Amy Poehler and musical guest Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (5.1 rating, 13 share in households in the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research, 2.6/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters) ranked as the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating all primetime programs on those nets in that key measure.

· These are the second-highest "SNL" results this season, behind only the Nov. 7 telecast (with host Donald Trump and musical guest Sia, 6.6/16 in metered-market household, 2.7/13 in 18-49 in the local people meters).

· It's also the second-highest-rated "Saturday Night Live" in both measures in the past 22 months, best excluding the Nov. 7 Trump-hosted telecast since Feb. 1, 2014 (5.4/13 in metered-market households, 2.9/12 in 18-49 in the local people meters, with host Melissa McCarthy and musical guest Imagine Dragons, which was Seth Meyers' last telecast as a regular).

· The Dec. 19 "Saturday Night Live" is up +28% versus the show's average for original telecasts last season in metered-market households (5.1 vs. 4.0) and up +30% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.6 vs. 2.0).

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, growing nationally by +49% this season going from "live plus same day" ratings to "live plus seven day" ratings in adult 18-49 results (from a 1.87 rating to a 2.78), and by +2.2 million viewers overall (6.4 million to 8.6 million).

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/20/14):

CBS (7.591 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) took home top honors on Saturday with its special edition of "Thursday Night Football" (7.591 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1).

ABC (3.044 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was a distant second place with encores of "I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown" (2.938 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) and "CMA Country Christmas" (3.097 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was NBC (1.680 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and a rebroadcast of last year's "The Sound of Music Live!" (1.680 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4).

And finally, repeats of "Bones" (2.061 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) and "Sleepy Hollow" (1.294 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T4) on FOX (1.678 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 Amy Adams and musical guest One Direction, delivered a 4.0 rating, 10 share in household results in the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters.

·"Saturday Night Live" was the #1 Big 4 non-sports telecast of the night in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime entertainment programs on those networks in both measures.

Source: Nielsen Media Research