or


[01/15/17 - 09:38 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NFL Playoff Coverage Tops Charts for CBS
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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (1/14/17):

CBS (26.326 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1) was of course the top draw on Saturday with its coverage of the "AFC Divisional Game: Houston at New England" (26.326 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1).

A distant silver then went to FOX (3.278 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) with repeats of "Lethal Weapon" (4.727 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2), "The Mick" (1.927 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and another "The Mick" (1.730 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

Next up was NBC (3.736 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its duo of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.064 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and "SNL Vintage" (3.082 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

And finally, repeats of "To Tell the Truth" (2.448 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), "Match Game" (2.368 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and another "Match Game" (2.427 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) rounded out the night for ABC (2.414 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4).

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

· The Jan. 14 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Felicity Jones and musical guest Sturgill Simpson, scored a 4.3 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Both the 4.3 rating in households and the 2.0 in 18-49 in the metered markets top the last eight "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, excluding the April 23 Prince tribute.

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

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

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals so far this season growing by +58% in 18-49 and +3.280 million persons or +44% in total viewers nationally going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to "live plus seven day" figures. In L+SD, "SNL" this season has averaged a 2.25 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.525 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" grew to a 3.55 in 18-49 and 10.805 million viewers.

· Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +27% in 18-49 nationally (3.55 vs. 2.79) and +2.317 million persons or +27% in total viewers (10.805 million vs. 8.488 million).

· The average 10.805 million viewers in L+7 makes this the show's most-watched season at this point in 24 years (versus prior seasons' original telecasts through comparable dates), best since 1992 (12.308 million for that season's first eleven originals).

· The 3.55 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008 (4.34 for that season's first eleven originals).


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/16/16):

NBC (29.237 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1) rocketed to the top spot on Saturday with its coverage of the "NFC Divisional Game: Green Bay at Arizona" (29.237 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.2, #1).

CBS (5.233 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) then was a distant silver with its mix of "NFL Overrun/NCIS: New Orleans" (7.209 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "Limitless" (4.466 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) and "48 Hours" (4.025 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

Next up was ABC (1.321 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and the feature "The Social Network" (1.382 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) plus a repeat "Fresh Off the Boat" (1.020 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #8).

And finally, encores of "Hell's Kitchen" (1.204 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "Second Chance" (1.110 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) on FOX (1.157 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the night.

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

· "Saturday Night Live" has delivered its highest adult 18-49 rating in the local people meters in two years.

· The Jan. 16 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Adam Driver and musical guest Chris Stapleton, averaged a 3.0 rating, 15 share in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters from 12:15-1:45 a.m. ET, according to Nielsen Media Research (an adjusted average in household rating in the 56 markets metered by Nielsen is currently unavailable due to technical issues). Note that last night's "SNL" was delayed about 45 minutes by the overrun of NBC's primetime NFL Playoff telecast.

· "Saturday Night Live" delivered the show's highest results in the Local People Meters since Jan. 4, 2014 (3.0/12 for "SNL Best of This Season," also following an NFL overrun) and equals the show's high since the Dec. 21, 2013 edition (3.9/18 with host Jimmy Fallon and musical guest Justin Timberlake).

· In household rating, "Saturday Night Live" is estimated to be generating about a mid-5 rating, though the exact figure is currently unavailable due to technical issues. A mid-5 would be the #2 household rating of the season, behind only the Nov. 7 telecast with host Donald Trump and musical guest Sia (6.6/16). Prior to last night, "SNL's" #2 household result this season has been the 5.1/13 for the Dec. 19 edition hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler with musical guest Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 in the metered markets, far ahead of all primetime entertainment programming on those networks.

· 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).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [january 2017]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[12/16/25 - 02:15 PM]
FOX NFL Week 15 Scores 19.4 Million Viewers for "America's Game of the Week"
Season-to-date, the NFL on FOX is averaging 20,055,000 viewers; up +8% over last year's average (18,630,000) and its best since 2015.

[12/16/25 - 02:15 PM]
"CBS News Presents: A Town Hall with Erika Kirk" Boosts CBS' Time Period Performance in Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49
The special delivered 1.9 million viewers with 265,000 in the adults 25-54 demographic on Saturday, December 13.

[12/16/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of December 8 - "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" Cracks the Case at No. 1 in the Top 10
New comedy series "Man vs. Baby" took No. 1 on the English TV list with 19.1 million views, with the Rowan Atkinson vehicle eliciting laughs over the bumbling Trevor Bingley trying to earn money house-sitting for millionaires while a lost baby keeps him on his toes.

[12/15/25 - 09:19 AM]
Driven by Strong November Viewership, ESPN Earns Third Straight Month of Year-Over-Year Audience Growth for Weekday Studio Programming
Highlights include "The Pat McAfee Show" having its most-viewed November of all time across linear and YouTube with 445,000 average viewers per show and "NFL Live" reaching its second most-watched November since 2016 with 445,000 average viewers.

[12/12/25 - 03:04 PM]
ESPN Scored Most-Watched Jimmy V Women's Classic Ever; Men's Classic Most-Watched in Five Years
The former averaged 1.0 million viewers, peaking with 1.3 million.

[12/11/25 - 03:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in All Key Target Demos
The series also saw gains on the same week last year in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[12/10/25 - 02:59 PM]
FOX NFL Scores Massive Week 14 Viewership
28 million viewers watched FOX Sports' Week 14 "America's Game of the Week," featuring the Green Bay Packers divisional win over the Chicago Bears.

[12/10/25 - 12:08 PM]
NBCU's November to Remember Showcases the Power of Company's Programming
"All Her Fault" became the most-watched original series launch in Peacock history with 46 million hours.

[12/10/25 - 09:54 AM]
ABC Unwraps Holiday Presentations of Fan Favorite Shows
"Dancing with the Holidays" was the top-performing holiday-themed special across the broadcast networks among Adults 18-49 in two years.

[12/09/25 - 04:11 PM]
"College GameDay" Delivers Second Most-Watched Conference Championship Episode Ever; ABC/ESPN Score Second Most-Watched Conference Championship Week Since 2014
The SEC Championship delivered 16.9 million viewers on Saturday, December 6.

[12/09/25 - 02:03 PM]
18.3 Million Viewers Tuned in for Big Ten Championship Game on FOX
Indiana's win peaked with 19,993,000 viewers from 11:00-11:15 PM ET.

[12/09/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of December 1 - "My Secret Santa" Sleigh Rides to No. 1 and "Stranger Things" Slays the Top 10 Again
The extensive four-part docuseries "Sean Combs: The Reckoning" grabbed the No. 2 spot on the TV list with 21.8 million views in its opening weekend.

[12/08/25 - 11:30 AM]
College Football on The CW Network Sees Double Digit Year-Over-Year Viewership Gains for 2025 Season
ACC football experienced the largest year-over-year growth, up 26% in total audience compared to 2024.

[12/05/25 - 03:31 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers
"Nightline" improved on the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, hitting nine-week highs in both measures.

[12/05/25 - 02:05 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Best College Football Regular Season Since 2011; "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Scores Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks aired the most-watched game in 34 of 42 key Saturday windows, including seven of 14 noon windows, 13 of 14 late afternoon windows and all 14 prime windows.