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 (3/16/19):

NBC (3.863 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) was the top draw on a modest Saturday with "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.282 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) and a vintage "Saturday Night Live" (3.023 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1).

ABC (2.299 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1) then shared in the demo honors with the finales to "NBA Countdown" (2.081 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.343 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T1).

Next up was CBS (2.212 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) and its mix of "One Night for One Drop: Imagined by Cirque du Soleil" (1.603 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "Ransom" (1.827 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "48 Hours" (3.207 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

And finally, FOX (1.137 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) closed out the night with "NCAA Men's Basketball Overrun" (1.432 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4), a repeat "MasterChef Junior" (0.811 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9) and a second "MasterChef Junior" (0.875 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9).

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

· A March 16 encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Matt Damon and musical guests Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, has averaged a 3.1 rating, 9 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 0.9/6 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The 3.1 in households makes this the #2 highest-rated regular-slot "SNL" encore of the season , behind only the 3.2 for the Jan. 12 rebroadcast, hosted by Steve Carell with musical guest Ella Mai (excludes a 3.2 for a one-hour 11:30-12:30 Halloween special on Oct. 27, 2018).

· The March 16 "Saturday Night Live" is tied as the #1 non-sports show of the night on the Big 4 networks in metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, tying NBC's "Dateline Mystery" for #1 in metered-market households and ABC's Warriors-Thunder NBA basketball for #1 in 18-49 in the local people meters..

· The March 16 rebroadcast is up +11% versus "SNL's" March 2018 average for encores in metered-market households (3.1 vs. 2.8).

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research