Casey Affleck-Hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Hits Highest Ratings Since November

NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE has scored the show's highest metered-market ratings since Nov. 12.

The Dec. 17 telecast, with host Casey Affleck and musical guest Chance The Rapper, scored a 4.9 rating, 12 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.4/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

These are the strongest "Saturday Night Live" local-market ratings since the Nov. 12 telecast, which was the first "SNL" to follow the Presidential election. Featuring host Dave Chappelle and musical guest A Tribe Called Quest, the Nov. 12 edition averaged a 6.2 household rating and a 3.9 in 18-49 in the local people meters.

Last night's "Saturday Night Live" is up +14% versus the show's December 2015 average for original telecasts in both metered-market households (4.9 vs. 4.3) and 18-49 in the local people meters (2.4 vs. 2.1 for December 2015).

Both the 4.9 rating in households and the 2.4 in 18-49 beat results for the final 10 "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season.

Last night's "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 telecast of the night on the broadcast networks, outrating every Saturday primetime telecast on those nets.

National ratings, including viewer totals, for last night's "Saturday Night Live" are due from Nielsen on Tuesday.

Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals so far this seasongrowing by +59% in 18-49 and +3.438 million persons or +45% in total viewers nationally going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to "live plus seven day" figures. In L+SD, "SNL" this season has averaged a 2.29 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.655 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" has grown to a 3.65 in 18-49 and 11.093 million viewers.

Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +34% in 18-49 nationally (3.65 vs. 2.73) and +2.701 million persons or +32% in total viewers (11.093 million vs. 8.392 million).

The average 11.093 million viewers in L+7 makes this the show's most-watched season at this point in 24 years (versus prior seasons' original telecasts through comparable dates), best since 1992 (12.097 million for that season's first eight originals).

The 3.65 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008 (4.40 for that season's first ten originals).

Saturday Primetime Ratings: NBC is currently #1 in primetime among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and total viewers, pending updates. Note that NBC stations in the New York and Miami markets carried NFL football.

An encore of "A SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Christmas Special" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET):

Is currently #1 in the time period among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers, pending updates.

Is currently up +57% versus NBC's average in the time period last season in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 0.7, L+SD non-sports) and up +16% in total viewers (4.056 million vs. 3.505 million).

Is currently delivering the top rating for a Saturday primetime "SNL" telecast in 18-49 since Feb. 14, 2015 (1.3) and best in total viewers since Feb. 21, 2015 (4.277 million).

A rebroadcast of "A Pentatonix Christmas Special" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET):

Is currently #1 in the time period among the Big 4 networks in total viewers and all key adult-female demos and #2 in adults 18-49, pending updates.

Is currently up +17% versus NBC's average in the time period last season in 18-49 (0.7 vs. 0.6, L+SD non-sports) and up +7% in total viewers (3.696 million vs. 3.444 million).

NOTE: Ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.

Photo by: Will Heath/NBC