NBC Ratings: SNL Marks Most-Watched Season in 24 Years

In Late-Night Metered-Market Ratings for Saturday Night:

The Nov. 5 edition of "Saturday Night Live" has scored the show's second-highest rating of the season to date in adults 18-49 in Nielsen's markets with local people meters and equaled the show's #2 rating of the season in metered-market households.

Last night's "Saturday Night Live," with host Benedict Cumberbatch and musical guest Solange, generated a 5.8 rating, 14 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.8/14 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Last night's telecast is up +14% versus the show's November 2015 average for originals in metered-market households (5.8 vs. 5.1) and up +22% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.8 vs. 2.3 for November 2015).

The only "Saturday Night Live" telecast so far this fall to top these Nov. 5 overnights is the Oct. 22 edition (6.1 in metered-market households, 3.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Lady Gaga). The season premiere on Oct. 1 (5.8 in households, 2.7 in 18-49 with host Margot Robbie and musical guest The Weeknd) also tied last night's 5.8 in metered-market households.

Last night's 2.8 in 18-49 in the local people meters is the highest rating for a November telecast of "SaturdayNight Live" since Nov. 3, 2012 (3.0 with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun).

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, so far this season growing by +61% in 18-49 and +3.567 million persons or +46% 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 2.21 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.787 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" has grown to a 3.56 in 18-49 and 11.354 million viewers.

· Versus the same point last season, "SNL" is up +34% in 18-49 nationally (3.56 vs. 2.65) and +3.578 million persons or +46% in total viewers (11.354 million vs. 7.776 million).

· The average 11.354 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 (11.417 million for that season's first four originals).

· The 3.56 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally is the show's best at this point since 2008 (4.53).

Prior metered-market results this fall have been:

Oct. 1: 5.8/15 in metered-market households, 2.7/14 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Margot Robbie and musical guest The Weeknd.

Oct. 8: 5.2/13 in metered-market households, 2.4/12 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Lin-Manuel Miranda and musical guest Twenty One Pilots.

Oct. 15: 5.0/12 in metered-market households, 2.3/12 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Emily Blunt and musical guest Bruno Mars.

Oct. 22: 6.1/15 in metered-market households, 3.0/14 in 18-49 in the local people meters with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Lady Gaga.

Saturday Primetime Ratings:

"Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET):

· Increased by 0.2 of a point or +50% from its first half-hour to its second in adults 18-49 (from a 0.4 rating to a 0.6) and by +26% in total viewers (2.8 million to 3.5 million).

"SNL Vintage" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET, with an encore of the Feb. 6, 2016 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" with host Larry David and musical guest The 1975):

· Grew +17% versus the prior week's encore in this slot in 18-49 rating (0.7 vs. 0.6) and +19% in total viewers (3.089 million vs. 2.587 million).

· Earned the top "SNL" encore results in this time period since Oct. 1 (0.8 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall with a rebroadcast of an Oct. 20, 2012 telecast featuring host and musical guest Bruno Mars).

NBC Sports' live coverage of "The 2016 Breeders' Cup" averaged a 1.7 rating, 3 share in metered-market households from 8-9 p.m. ET.

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