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 (3/12/16):

NBC (4.496 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (5.133 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (3.222 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

ABC (2.357 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then claimed the silver with its coverage of "NBA Countdown" (1.971 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6) and "NBA on ABC" (2.434 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

Next up was CBS (3.735 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and repeats of "NCIS" (2.909 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6), "Criminal Minds" (3.361 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) and a new "48 Hours" (4.935 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1).

And finally, encores of "Rosewood" (0.890 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Lucifer" (1.056 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) on FOX (0.973 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night.

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

· The March 12 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host and musical guest Ariana Grande, averaged a 4.0 rating, 10 share in household results from the 56 markets metered-by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating all primetime programming on those networks in both categories.

· "Saturday Night Live" grew +3% versus the show's average for originals in the month of March last year in metered-market households (4.0 vs 3.9 for March 2015).

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals growing by +48% going from L+SD to L+7 in adults 18-49 (1.98 to 2.94) and +2.260 million persons in total viewers (6.509 million to 8.769 million).

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/14/15):

NBC (3.960 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its duo of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.367 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) and a repeat of "Saturday Night Live" (3.146 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2).

CBS (4.054 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.462 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5), "Criminal Minds" (3.674 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) and "48 Hours" (5.028 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

Next up was ABC (3.470 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and its pairing of "20/20" (3.178 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and "In an Instant" (3.617 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5).

And finally, encores of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (1.135 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8), "The Last Man on Earth" (1.154 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Sleepy Hollow" (0.953 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) on FOX (1.049 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening.

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

· An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host J.K. Simmons and musical guest D'Angelo and The Vanguard, averaged a 2.9 rating, 7 share in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.2/6 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 adults 18-49 in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime programs on those nets in that key measure.

Source: Nielsen Media Research