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 (4/7/18):

ABC (2.353 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) inched past the competition on Saturday with its regular season finales to "NBA Countdown" (1.860 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.451 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1).

NBC (2.737 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was a close second with its mix of "Will & Grace" (1.884 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T9), "Superstore" (1.996 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.426 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (2.845 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1).

Next up was CBS (3.546 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with its trio of "Ransom" (2.715 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6), a repeat "NCIS" (3.362 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "48 Hours" (4.561 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4).

And finally, encores of "MasterChef Junior" (1.139 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T9) and "Showtime at the Apollo" (1.307 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T9) on FOX (1.223 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· The April 7 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Chadwick Boseman with musical guest Cardi B, has averaged a 4.6 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.0/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· These are the highest "Saturday Night Live" figures in both measures since Feb. 3 (4.6 in metered-market households, 2.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Natalie Portman and musical guest Dua Lipa). "SNL" last scored higher with the Jan. 27 edition (4.9 in households, 2.3 in 18-49 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Chris Stapleton).

· "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, topping in both measures all primetime programs on those nets, including ABC's Thunder-Rockets NBA coverage.

· "Saturday Night Live" outrated the night's #2 Big 4 program in metered-market households by a +44% margin (4.6 vs. 3.2 for CBS's 10 p.m. telecast of "48 Hours") and the #2 show in 18-49 in the local people meters by +122% (2.0 vs. 0.9 for the Thunder-Rockets game).

· Last night's telecast is up +2% versus "SNL's" year-ago April average for originals in metered-market households (4.6 vs. 4.5).

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/8/17):

NBC (3.977 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its mainstays "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.480 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) and "SNL Vintage" (2.973 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1).

The silver draw then was ABC (1.782 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) with its weekly "NBA Countdown" (1.331 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (1.872 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

Next up was CBS (3.066 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with the return of "Ransom" (3.129 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "Training Day" (2.528 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) plus a new "48 Hours" (3.541 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3).

And finally, encores of "MasterChef Junior" (0.986 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Prison Break" (0.936 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) on FOX (0.961 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) rounded out the night.

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

· The April 8 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Louis C.K. and musical guest The Chainsmokers, has averaged a 4.5 rating, 12 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.1/11 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 2.1 ties it with "Empire" and "Modern Family" as the #3 entertainment telecast so far this week on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the local people meters, behind only "Big Bang Theory" and "The Voice."

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of April last year, last night's telecast is up +10% in meter-market households (4.5 vs. 4.1) and up +11% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.1 vs. 1.9 for the month of April 2016).

· The 4.5 rating in households matches last season's highest rating over the final 10 "Saturday Night Live" originals, while the 2.1 in 18-49 equals the high for last season's final nine first-runs.

Source: Nielsen Media Research