Aziz Ansari-Hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Delivers Strongest Ratings Since November

The Jan. 21 telecast of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, with host Aziz Ansari and musical guest Big Sean, scored a 5.1 rating, 13 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.5/12 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.

The 5.1 rating in households beat results for the final 10 "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, while the 2.5 in 18-49 in the local people meters topped last season's final 11 first-runs.

Last night's "Saturday Night Live" was the #1 telecast of the night on the broadcast networks in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating every Saturday primetime telecast on those nets in both categories. National ratings, including viewer totals, for last night's "Saturday Night Live" are due from Nielsen on Tuesday.

Note that "SNL" adds substantial viewership via time-shifting, with originals so far this season growing by +58% in 18-49 and +3.280 million persons or +44% 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 2.25 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.525 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" grew to a 3.55 in 18-49 and 10.805 million viewers.

Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +27% in 18-49 nationally (3.55 vs. 2.79) and +2.317 million persons or +27% in total viewers (10.805 million vs. 8.488 million).

The average 10.805 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 (12.308 million for that season's first eleven originals).

The 3.55 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008 (4.34 for that season's first eleven originals).

Saturday Primetime Ratings: NBC Sports' primetime coverage of the "U.S. FIGURE SKATING Championships" averaged a 0.4 rating, 2 share in adults 18-49 and 2.8 million viewers overall from 8-11 p.m. ET.

From its first half-hour to its sixth, the "U.S. FIGURE SKATING Championships" grew by 0.1 of a point or +25% in 18-49 rating (0.4 to 0.5), +40% in adults 25-54 (0.5 to 0.7) and +25% in total viewers (2.7 million to 3.3 million).

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

Image courtesy of NBC