Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/2/17):

FOX (11.577 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) surged into the top spot last night with its "CFB on FOX" (11.577 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) coverage.

ABC (5.546 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then got bumped to second with its finale to "Saturday Night College Football" (5.546 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.241 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with repeats of "Kevin Can Wait" (3.486 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3), "Man with a Plan" (2.838 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) and "NCIS: New Orleans" (3.248 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) plus a new "48 Hours" (3.313 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7).

And finally, NBC (2.731 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) closed out the night with its lineup of "Will & Grace" (1.894 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #10), "Superstore" (2.029 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.281 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.951 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5).

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

· The Dec. 2 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Saoirse Ronan and featuring musical guest U2, has averaged a 4.3 rating, 10 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.7/8 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· It's the #2 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, behind only Fox's high-rated coverage of the Ohio State-Wisconsin Big 10 championship college-football game in both categories.

· "Saturday Night Live" equaled the household rating of its prior two original telecasts (4.3 each on Nov. 11 and 18).

· Among "SNL's" seventh original telecasts of each season, this is the second-highest-rated in five years in metered-market households (since Nov. 10, 2012, 5.0 with host Anne Hathaway and musical guest Rihanna), trailing over that span only last season's Nov. 19, 2016 edition (4.7 with host Kristen Wiig and musical guest The xx).

· The Dec. 2 "SNL" aired live coast to coast (11:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. PT) and was replayed at 11:30 in western markets. Note that these numbers under-report last night's "SNL" results because they don't include viewership from the show's 11:30 replays in the Western U.S.

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/3/16):

FOX (8.334 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its coverage of "CFB on FOX" (8.334 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1).

ABC (5.323 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then took home the silver with its own "Saturday Night College Football" (5.323 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) presentation.

Next up was NBC (3.742 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with its annual telecast of "It's a Wonderful Life" (3.742 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6).

And finally, repeats of "NCIS: New Orleans" (4.844 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) and "Criminal Minds" (3.801 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.263 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) closed out the evening on CBS (4.303 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4).

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

· The Dec. 3 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Emma Stone and musical guest Shawn Mendes, scored a 4.4 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.1/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 4.4 is up +7% versus "Saturday Night Live's" rating on the same night last year in metered-market households (4.4 vs. 4.1 on Dec. 5, 2015) and the 2.1 in 18-49 in the LPMs is up +5% (2.1 vs. 2.0).

· The 4.4 rating in households and 2.1 in 18-49 in the metered markets top the last eight "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, excluding the April 23 Prince tribute.

· 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 +60% in 18-49 and +3.527 million persons or +45% 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 2.34 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.837 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" has grown to a 3.74 in 18-49 and 11.364 million viewers.

· Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +35% in 18-49 nationally (3.74 vs. 2.78) and +2.788 million persons or +33% in total viewers (11.364 million vs. 8.576 million).

· The average 11.364 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 (11.949 million for that season's first seven originals).

· The 3.74 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008 (4.51 for that season's first nine originals).

Source: Nielsen Media Research