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 (3/17/18):

CBS (5.653 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) continued its win streak on Saturday with its primetime coverage of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament" (5.807 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) followed by a new "48 Hours" (5.344 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

NBC (2.423 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then was the silver draw with its mix of "Will & Grace" (1.476 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11), "Superstore" (1.591 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.215 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.521 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

Next up was ABC (2.486 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with encores of "20/20 - Roseanne: The Return" (3.188 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), "Deception" (2.209 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #6) and "For the People" (2.063 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7).

And finally, rebroadcasts of "MasterChef Junior" (1.275 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Showtime at the Apollo" (1.470 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) on FOX (1.372 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) rounded out the evening.

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

· The March 17 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Bill Hader with musical guest Arcade Fire, has averaged a 4.5 rating, 10 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in in 18-49 in the local people meters, topping all primetime programs on those nets, including CBS' primetime coverage of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. In metered-market households, current averages show "SNL" tied for #1 with the early primetime NCAA game (4.5 rating each)

· It's the highest rating for "Saturday Night Live" in metered-market households since Feb. 3 (4.6 with host Natalie Portman and musical guest Dua Lipa). In 18-49 in the local people meters, the 1.9 equals "SNL's" high since that Feb. 3 edition.

· The March 17 "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.

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/18/17):

CBS (5.355 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its primetime portion of the "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament" (5.467 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) and a new "48 Hours" (5.132 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

NBC (2.454 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then was the silver draw with the feature "Fast Five" (2.454 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3).

Next up was ABC (1.708 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its weekly "NBA Countdown" (1.630 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (1.723 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4).

And finally on FOX (0.760 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4), "Monster Energy Supercross" (0.760 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) rounded out the night.

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

· A March 18 encore of "Saturday Night Live," with host Casey Affleck and musical guest Chance the Rapper, has averaged a 3.2 rating, 8 share in households in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.3/7 in 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Versus what the show averaged last year with March rebroadcasts, last night's "Saturday Night Live" is up +14% in metered-market households (3.2 vs. 2.8) and up +8% in 18-49 in the local people meters (1.3 vs. 1.2 for March 2016 encores).

· In fact, the 3.2 rating in households and the 1.3 in 18-49 in the local people meters beats 26 of 27 encores of "SNL" from last season in both categories.

Source: Nielsen Media Research