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[03/08/20 - 05:36 PM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: "Dateline" Tops Viewers, Demos for NBC
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (3/7/20):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live events.]

NBC (3.329 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1) was the top draw on Saturday with its mix of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.417 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3), "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (3.921 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) and "SNL Vintage" (2.650 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1).

ABC (1.663 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #2) was a close second with "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (1.663 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

Next up was CBS (2.900 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with repeats of "FBI" (2.580 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "NCIS: Los Angeles" (2.660 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) plus a new "48 Hours" (3.461 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).And finally, "FOX PBC Fight Night" (1.299 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) on FOX (1.299 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) rounded out the night.

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

· The March 7 edition of "Saturday Night Live," with host Daniel Craig and musical guest The Weeknd, has averaged a 4.1 rating in "live plus same day" household results from 44 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.6 rating in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· Versus primetime programming on the Big 4 networks last night, "SNL" is the #1 show of the night in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters.

· Note that current metered-market results are not compatible with data issued before Oct. 5 due to changes in Nielsen methodology.


Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/9/19):

NBC (3.747 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) was the top draw on a low key Saturday with its mix of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.021 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2), another "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (4.071 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) and "Saturday Night Live" (3.150 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2).

ABC (2.604 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) then shared in the demo honors with its weekly "NBA Countdown" (2.152 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) and "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" (2.695 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1).

Next up was CBS (2.865 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with originals from "Ransom" (2.539 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "48 Hours" (2.355 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and another "48 Hours" (3.701 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #6).

And finally, FOX (1.347 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) closed out the night with a new installment of "Premier Boxing Champions" (1.347 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7).

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

· The March 9 telecast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Idris Elba and musical guest Khalid, averaged a 4.5 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 1.7/9 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

· The March 9 "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 Celtics-Lakers NBA Basketball coverage.

· "Saturday Night Live" finished +67% above the #2 Big 4 telecast of the night in metered-market households (4.5 vs. 2.7 for CBS' 10 p.m. "48 Hours"). In 18-49 in the local people meters, "SNL" topped the #2 show by +42% (1.7 vs. 1.2 for ABC's Celtics-Lakers basketball).

· Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of March last year, the March 9 telecast is up +5% in metered-market households (4.5 vs. 4.3).

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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