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[01/21/18 - 09:04 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NBA Primetime Return Puts ABC on Top
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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (1/20/18):

ABC (3.373 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) moved to the top spot last night with the primetime returns of "NBA Countdown" (2.545 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (3.539 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1).

NBC (2.706 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was the silver draw with its mix of "Will & Grace" (1.950 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), "Superstore" (2.196 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #6), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.302 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.744 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

Next up was CBS (3.869 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) and its lineup of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.605 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7), "48 Hours" (3.325 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) and a new "48 Hours" (4.677 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

And finally, encores of "The Four: Battle for Stardom" (1.226 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) and a second "The Four: Battle for Stardom" (1.441 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T7) on FOX (1.333 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· The Jan. 20 telecast, hosted by Jessica Chastain and featuring musical guest Troye Sivan, 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 1.8/8 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households, ahead of all primetime programming on the broadcast networks, including ABC's Warriors-Rockets NBA coverage. In 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" is tied with the basketball telecast as the #1 show of the night.


Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/21/17):

ABC (2.952 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its presentation of "NBA Countdown" (2.405 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (3.061 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1).

CBS (4.013 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was the silver draw with a new "Ransom" (3.619 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) alongside a repeat "48 Hours" (3.886 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and a second "48 Hours" (4.535 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2).

Next up was NBC (2.810 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its coverage of the "U.S. Figure Skating Championships" (2.810 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

And finally, encores of "Lethal Weapon" (1.847 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "Star" (1.195 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) on FOX (1.521 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night.

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

· "Saturday Night Live" has scored the show's highest metered-market ratings since Nov. 12.

· The Jan. 21 telecast, with host Aziz Ansari and musical guest Big Sean, scored a 5.1 rating, 13 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.5/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· These are the strongest "Saturday Night Live" local-market ratings since the Nov. 12 telecast, which was the first "SNL" to follow the Presidential election. Featuring host Dave Chappelle and musical guest A Tribe Called Quest, the Nov. 12 edition averaged a 6.2 household rating and a 3.9 in 18-49 in the local people meters.

· The 5.1 rating in households beat results for the final 10 "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, while the 2.5 in 18-49 in the local people meters topped last season's final 11 first-runs.

· Last night's "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 telecast of the night on the broadcast networks in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating every Saturday primetime telecast on those nets in both categories.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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