Lions-Seahawks Dominate NBC's Primetime While SNL Hits a Four Year High

Saturday Primetime Ratings:

Regarding this morning's Nielsens, note that the fast-affiliate ratings that came in at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT are not time zone-adjusted and are subject to change for live sports coverage.

In these preliminary results, NBC dominates the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49, total viewers and every other key category in the fast-affiliate ratings.

In time zone-adjusted household results, NBC Sports coverage of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game featuring the Detroit Lions at the Seattle Seahawks averaged a 16.5 rating, 27 share from 8:15-11 p.m. ET in household results from the 56 markets metered by Nielsen Media Research (not including digital data) to easily win the night in both metered-market households and adults 18-49 in the local people meters

NBC's 16.5/27 for the Lions-Seahawks Wild Card Game is the best Saturday night metered-market rating for any network since Jan. 16, 2016 (Packers-Cardinals on NBC, 20.3/34).

The metered-market rating peaked at a 17.2/28 from 9-9:30 p.m. ET.

Top markets for Lions-Seahawks on NBC: Seattle 46.8/72; Detroit 33.0/49; Portland 30.1/44; Richmond 22.5/31; Milwaukee 22.0/35; Norfolk 21.6/31; Las Vegas 21.3/34; Denver 20.3/36; Phoenix 19.1/32; and Greensboro 19.0/26.

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live," airing from 12-1:30 a.m. ET with host with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Lady Gaga, averaged a 3.9/11 in households in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 1.8/9 in 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

It's the highest-rated "Saturday Night Live" encore in four years in metered-market households, with last night's 3.9 in 18-49 the show's best since Jan. 5, 2013 (4.6 with host Louis C.K. and musical guest fun).

In 18-49 in the local people meters, "Saturday Night Live" generated its highest rating for a rebroadcast in three years, since the Jan. 11, 2014 encore hosted by Jimmy Fallon with musical guest Justin Timberlake averaged a 2.0.

Note that "SNL" adds significant 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 nine 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).

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

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

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