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[11/06/16 - 10:27 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: College Football Special Sparks CBS Victory
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 seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (11/5/16):

CBS (9.829 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) surged to the top spot on Saturday with its special coverage of "College Football: Alabama at LSU" (9.829 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1).

ABC (5.070 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with its weekly edition of "Saturday Night College Football" (5.070 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

Next up was NBC (2.777 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) and its mix of "The 2016 Breeders' Cup" (2.099 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.142 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) and "SNL Vintage" (3.090 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3).

And finally, repeats of "Pitch" (1.172 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "Lethal Weapon" (1.554 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) closed out the night on FOX (1.363 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4).

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

· The Nov. 5 edition of "Saturday Night Live" has scored the show's second-highest rating of the season to date in adults 18-49 in Nielsen's markets with local people meters and equaled the show's #2 rating of the season in metered-market households.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live," with host Benedict Cumberbatch and musical guest Solange, generated a 5.8 rating, 14 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.8/14 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Last night's telecast is up +14% versus the show's November 2015 average for originals in metered-market households (5.8 vs. 5.1) and up +22% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.8 vs. 2.3 for November 2015).

· The only "Saturday Night Live" telecast so far this fall to top these Nov. 5 overnights is the Oct. 22 edition (6.1 in metered-market households, 3.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Lady Gaga). The season premiere on Oct. 1 (5.8 in households, 2.7 in 18-49 with host Margot Robbie and musical guest The Weeknd) also tied last night's 5.8 in metered-market households.

· Last night's 2.8 in 18-49 in the local people meters is the highest rating for a November telecast of "Saturday Night Live" since Nov. 3, 2012 (3.0 with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun).


Here are the highlights of the five ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/7/15):

CBS (10.676 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) took home top honors on Saturday with its special coverage of "College Football: LSU @ Alabama" (10.676 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1).

ABC (4.629 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) then was a distant second place with its "Saturday Night College Football" (4.629 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2).

Next up was NBC (3.821 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its duo of "Dateline NBC" (3.958 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) and "Saturday Night Live" (3.549 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3).

And finally, "CFB on FOX" (1.125 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) coverage on FOX (1.125 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening.

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

·The Nov. 7 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Donald Trump and musical guest Sia, averaged a 6.6 rating, 16 share in metered-market household results from Nielsen Media Research and a 2.7/13 in adults 18-49 in the local people meters.

·In the 56 markets metered by Nielsen, the 6.6 rating is the highest for "Saturday Night Live" since Jan. 7, 2012 (7.0/18 with host Charles Barkley and musical guest Kelly Clarkson). In the 25 markets with local people meters, the 2.7 rating in adults 18-49 is the show's highest since Feb. 1, 2014 (2.9/12 with host Melissa McCarthy and musical guest Imagine Dragons).

·"Saturday Night Live" ranked as the night's #1 telecast on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households, topping all primetime programs on those nets.

·The Nov. 7 "Saturday Night Live" is up +53% versus "SNL's" year-ago November average for originals in metered-market households (6.6 vs. 4.3 on Nov. 1, 15 and 22, 2014). On the same night last year, "SNL" aired a rebroadcast. Versus the 2014-15 season average for originals, this week's "Saturday Night Live" grew +65% (6.6 vs. 4.0).

·Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals nationally growing by +51% so far this season going from "live plus same day" ratings to "live plus seven day" ratings in adult 18-49 (from a 1.75 rating to a 2.65).

· National ratings, including viewer totals, for last night's "Saturday Night Live" are due from Nielsen on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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