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[01/31/16 - 09:01 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC, NBA Top Demos Once Again
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (1/30/16):

ABC (2.968 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its presentation of "NBA Countdown" (1.971 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and "NBA on ABC" (3.168 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1).

NBC (4.197 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) and FOX (2.385 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) then shared the silver as the latter offered up "UFC on FOX" (2.385 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

The Peacock then served up a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (4.750 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) and "Saturday Night Live" (3.089 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

And finally, repeats of "48 Hours" (2.826 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7), "Criminal Minds" (2.859 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6) and a new "48 Hours" (4.365 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) on CBS (3.350 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) closed out the night.

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

· An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Elizabeth Banks and musical guest Exposure (3.2/8 in metered-market households, 1.2/6 in adults 18-49 in the local people meters) delivered the best rating for an "SNL" rebroadcast in nearly a year in metered-market households.

· The 3.2 was the highest household rating for an encore "Saturday Night Live" since Feb. 14 , 2015 (3.8/10 with host George Carlin and musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston, a rebroadcast of the "SNL" series premiere from Oct. 11, 1975).

· In 18-49 in the local people meters, "Saturday Night Live" equaled the show's highest rating for a rebroadcast since May 30, 2015 (1.3/6 with host Cameron Diaz and musical guests Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.

· The "SNL" encore is the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and adults 18-49 in the local people meters, topping every primetime entertainment show on those networks in both measures.

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals growing by +52% going from L+SD to L+7 in adults 18-49 (1.84 to 2.79) and +2.252 million persons in total viewers (6.236 million to 8.488 million).


Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/31/15):

NBC (4.388 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) claimed the demo crown on Saturday with its telecasts of "SNL's NFL Saturday" (3.824 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and the "NFL Honors" (4.670 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1).

ABC (3.184 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then took home the silver with thanks to the feature "Despicable Me" (3.240 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and a special "20/20" (3.071 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5).

Next up was CBS (4.572 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with its lineup of "Hawaii Five-0" (3.725 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and "Criminal Minds" (4.379 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T5) repeats followed by "48 Hours" (5.614 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

And finally, a repeat "Backstrom" (1.737 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9) and the return of "Red Band Society" (1.789 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) closed out the evening on FOX (1.763 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4).

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

·"Saturday Night Live," with host J.K. Simmons and musical guest D'Angelo and The Vanguard, averaged a 4.3 rating, 11 share 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 adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in both measures.

·It's the second-highest-rated "SNL" since Dec. 6 (with host James Franco and musical guest Nicki Minaj, 4.4/11 in metered-market households, 2.2/10 in 18-49) in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the LPMs, trailing over that span only last week's telecast with host and musical guest Blake Shelton (4.7/12 in metered-market households, 2.2/10 in 18-49).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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