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 (4/2/16):

CBS (3.611 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) claimed top honors on a low key Saturday with its mix of "Rush Hour" (2.151 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5), "48 Hours" (4.093 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) and a new "48 Hours" (4.589 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1).

NBC (3.311 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then took home the silver with a new "Dateline NBC" (4.547 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and the "2016 World Figure Skating Championships" (2.693 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

Next up was ABC (2.418 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with the feature "Mirror Mirror" (2.195 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and a special "20/20 Saturday" (2.863 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

And finally, repeats of "Rosewood" (1.116 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #9) and "Lucifer" (1.179 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) on FOX (1.147 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 April 2 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Peter Dinklage and musical guest Gwen Stefani, averaged a 4.0 rating, 10 share in household results from the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" was 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, ahead of all primetime programs on those nets in both measures.

· "Saturday Night Live" grew +8% versus the same night last year in metered-market households (4.0 vs 3.7 on April 4, 2015).

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals growing by +50% going from L+SD to L+7 in adults 18-49 (1.93 to 2.89) and +2.246 million persons in total viewers (6.348 million to 8.594 million).

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (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).

Source: Nielsen Media Research