Octavia Spencer-Hosted SNL Delivers Show's Second-Highest Local Market Ratings Since November

By: Mar. 05, 2017
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In Late-Night Metered-Market Ratings for Saturday Night: "Saturday Night Live" has generated the show's second-highest overnight rating since Nov. 12. THE MARCH 4 telecast, hosted by Octavia Spencer and featuring musical guest Father John Misty, scored a 5.2 rating, 14 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.3/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

The 5.2 in household rating ranks as the second strongest "Saturday Night Live" local-market result since the Nov. 12 telecast (with host Dave Chappelle and musical guest A Tribe Called Quest, 6.2), which was the first "SNL" to follow the Presidential election, trailing over that span only the Feb. 11 edition (with host Alec Baldwin and musical guest Ed Sheeran, 7.2).

Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of March last year, last night's telecast is up +30% in meter-market households (5.2 vs. 4.0) and up +21% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.3 vs. 1.9 for the month of March 2016). The 5.2 rating in households beats results for the final 12 "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, while the 2.3 in 18-49 in the local people meters tops last season's final nine 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.

Compared with all primetime programming on the Big 4 networks this week, "SNL's" 2.3 would be tied for #4 in 18-49 in the local people meters, behind only Monday's "Voice" (3.1), Monday's "Bachelor" (2.6) and Wednesday's "Modern Family" (2.4) and tied with Tuesday's "Voice" (2.3).

Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals so far this season growing by +59% in 18-49 and +3.405 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 2.24 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.617 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" grew to a 3.57 in 18-49 and 11.022 million viewers.

Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +21% in 18-49 nationally (3.57 vs. 2.94) and +2.253 million persons or +26% in total viewers (11.022 million vs. 8.769 million). The average 11.022 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 1992-93 (12.903 million for that season's first 13 originals). The 3.57 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008-09 (4.11 for that season's first 16 originals). National ratings, including viewer totals, for last night's "Saturday Night Live" encore are due from Nielsen on Tuesday.

Encores of Wednesday's three crossover "Chicago" dramas ranked #2 for the night among the Big 4 in total viewers and tied for #2 in 18-49.

A encore of Wednesday's "Chicago Justice" preview (0.6/2 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET): Won the time period among ABC, CBS and NBC in total viewers. Despite the 10 p.m. hour, grows +20% from its first half-hour to its second in adults 18-49 (0.5 vs. 0.6), +14% in adults 25-54 (0.7 to 0.8), +11% in women 25-54 (0.9 to 1.0) and +15% in total viewers (3.2 million to 3.7 million).

A rebroadcast of Wednesday's "Chicago P.D." (0.5/2 in 18-49, 2.8 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET): Wins the time period among the Big 4 networks in total viewers. Ranks #1 or tied for #1 in all key adult-female demos.

An encore of Wednesday's "Chicago Fire" (0.4/2 in 18-49, 2.1 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET): Ranks #2 the slot among the Big 4 in total viewers. Grows half-hour to half-hour in nearly all key measures.


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



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