Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (9/28/19):

ABC (5.544 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) continued its reign on Saturday with its weekly installment of "Saturday Night College Football" (5.544 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1).

The silver then went to NBC (2.509 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) with its mix of "The Voice" (2.156 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.151 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) and "SNL Vintage" (2.220 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3).

Next up was FOX (1.952 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and a special edition of "MLB on FOX" (1.952 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

And finally, CBS (2.593 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night with encores of "Bob (Hearts) Abishola" (2.343 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4), "Carol's Second Act" (2.166 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "All Rise" (2.235 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) plus a new "48 Hours" (3.288 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

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

· The 45th season premiere of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Woody Harrelson and featuring musical guest Billie Eilish, has averaged a 4.1 rating, 10 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.6/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The Sept. 28 edition maintains 100% of the show's season finale rating in the metered markets (4.1 vs. 4.1 on May 18), while growing +7% in 18-49 in the local people meters (1.6 vs. 1.5), to top three of the show's final four telecasts of last season.

· Versus all primetime entertainment programming so far on the Big 4 networks during Premiere Week, "Saturday Night Live" is tied for #6 in adults 18-49 in the local people meters, ranking behind only "The Masked Singer" (3.1), "This Is Us" (2.2), "9-1-1" (1.9), Monday's "The Voice" (1.7) and "Grey's Anatomy" (1.7).

· The year-ago season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.8 in metered-market households and a 2.3 in 18-49.

Here are the highlights of the six ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/29/18):

ABC (8.865 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) surged to top honors last night with its weekly coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (8.865 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1).

NBC (3.454 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then was the silver draw with its own special "College Football: Stanford at Notre Dame" (3.454 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.458 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #3) with an encore of "FBI" (2.979 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) followed by the season premiere of "48 Hours" (3.465 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and a second "48 Hours" (3.931 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

And finally, FOX (1.373 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the night with "CFB on FOX" (1.373 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

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

· The 44th season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" has generated the show's second highest-rated season debut in six years, trailing over that span only 2016's election-fueled results, according to preliminary metered-market "live plus same day" results from Nielsen Media Research.

· With an edition hosted by Adam Driver and featuring musical guest Kanye West and an appearance by Matt Damon, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.8 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen and a 2.3/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The Sept. 29 edition, which aired live coast to coast (11:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. PT) and counted unduplicated viewers from 11:30 encores in western markets, generated the show's second biggest metered-market household rating for a season debut since Sept. 15, 2012, when the telecast hosted by Seth MacFarlane and featuring musical guest Frank Ocean, also averaged a 4.8.

· Over that six-year span, the only bigger result for an "SNL" season debut came with the 2016 opener, hosted by Margot Robbie and featuring musical guest The Weeknd, as well as the first appearance of Alec Baldwin as then-Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump (5.8 rating in metered-market households).

· Excluding election years, this is the highest "SNL" season premiere since the Sept. 24, 2011 opener with host Alec Baldwin and musical guest Radiohead (5.1).

· Versus the year-ago premiere, last night's "Saturday Night Live" grew +7% in metered-market households (4.8 vs. 4.5 on Sept. 30, 2017) and was up +10% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.3 vs. 2.1). Last night's household rating tops every "SNL" telecast from last season except the Jan. 27 edition, hosted by Will Ferrell and featuring musical guest Chris Stapleton (4.9). In 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" most recently topped last night's 2.3 with the 2016-17 season finale, May 20, 2017, with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest Katy Perry (2.6).

Source: Nielsen Media Research