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 (9/2/17):

ABC (12.002 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) pulled in front on Saturday with the return of "Saturday Night College Football" (12.002 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1).

A distant second then went to NBC (2.743 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) and its duo of "America's Got Talent" (2.571 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.087 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2).

Next up was CBS (1.530 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) with a new "Candy Crush" (1.388 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.2, #7), the season finale of "Candy Crush" (1.229 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and a repeat "48 Hours" (1.975 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

And finally, FOX (1.716 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) closed out the night with its "CFB on FOX" (1.716 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) coverage.

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

· A Sept. 2 encore of "Saturday Night Live," with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest Katy Perry, has averaged a 2.6 rating, 7 share in households in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 0.9/5 in 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "SNL" matched its highest household rating in the metered markets since June 10 (2.9 with host Jimmy Fallon and musical guest Harry Styles) and equaled the show's highest 18-49 rating in the local people meters since May 27 (1.0 with host Louis C.K. and musical guest The Chainsmokers).

· Versus the show's year-ago averaged for September encores, last night's "Saturday Night Live" is up +24% in metered-market households (with a 2.6 rating vs. a 2.1) and +13% in 18-49 in the local people meters (0.9 vs. 0.8 for September 2016 encores).

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/3/16):

ABC (7.528 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) surged to the top spot on Saturday with the return of "Saturday Night College Football" (7.528 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1).

CBS (2.892 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then was a distant second with a special "A Football Life" (1.908 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) followed by repeats of "48 Hours" (3.058 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and another "48 Hours" (3.711 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2).

Next up was FOX (1.394 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with repeats of "Hotel Hell" (1.255 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #7) and another "Hotel Hell" (1.534 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

And finally, an encore "America's Got Talent" (2.277 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3), a new "Aquarius" (1.221 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) and second "Aquarius" (1.177 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T8) on NBC (1.558 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #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 and musical guest Ariana Grande, averaged a 2.1 rating, 6 share in household results from the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 0.8/5 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" was the night's top-rated non-sports telecast on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the local people meters, topping all primetime entertainment programs on those nets in that key demo

· Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals this past season growing by +49% going from L+SD to L+7 in adults 18-49 (1.83 to 2.72) and +2.090 million persons in total viewers (6.051 million to 8.141 million).

Source: Nielsen Media Research