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 (3/2/19):

ABC (2.867 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) was the demo champ on Saturday with its weekly coverage of "NBA Countdown" (2.365 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.968 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

NBC (3.702 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) then was the silver draw with its mix of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.853 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4), a second hour of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.297 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.955 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3).

Next up was CBS (3.127 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its lineup of "Ransom" (2.725 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), a repeat "Magnum, P.I." (2.529 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "48 Hours" (4.128 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T4).

And finally, FOX (1.341 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the evening with repeats of "9-1-1" (1.452 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Proven Innocent" (1.230 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #10).

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

· The March 2 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host John Mulaney and musical guest Thomas Rhett, averaged a 4.7 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.9/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· "SNL" matched the show's second highest metered-market ratings since the show's Sept. 29, 2018 season premiere, trailing over that span only the Dec. 15, 2018 edition (hosted by Matt Damon with musical guests Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, 4.8 in metered-market households, 2.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters). The season premiere, with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West, earned a 4.8 in households and a 2.3 in 18-49. Lasts night's results were matched on Feb. 9 (4.7 in metered-market households, 1.9 in 18-49 in the LPMs with host and musical guest Halsey).

· The March 2 "Saturday Night Live" ranks as 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 all primetime shows on those nets, including ABC's primetime Warriors-76ers NBA Basketball coverage.

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of March last year, the Feb. 9 telecast is up +9% in metered-market households (4.7 vs. 4.3) and up +6% in 18-49 in the local people meters (1.9 vs. 1.8 for March 2018 originals).

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

ABC (2.675 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) pulled back in front among adults 18-49 on Saturday with its coverage of "NBA Countdown" (2.296 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.751 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1).

CBS (3.720 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) then was the most-watched broadcaster with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.395 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "48 Hours" (3.554 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) plus a new "48 Hours" (4.211 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

Next up was NBC (1.574 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and its primetime portion of "National Hockey League: Toronto at Washington" (1.574 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

And finally, encores of "MasterChef Junior" (1.396 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) and "Showtime at the Apollo" (1.457 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) on FOX (1.426 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) rounded out the night.

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

· The March 3 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Charles Barkley and featuring musical guest Migos, has averaged a 4.2 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 (the Boston and Providence markets are currently excluded).

· With its first telecast in four weeks, "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 Celtics-Rockets NBA coverage.

· "Saturday Night Live" outrated the night's #2 Big 4 program in metered-market households by a +45% margin (4.2 vs. 2.9 for CBS' 10 p.m. telecast of "48 Hours") and the #2 show in 18-49 in the local people meters by +58% (1.9 vs. 1.2 for the Celtics-Rockets game).

· The March 3 "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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research