SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is No. 1 Telecast; Up 20% vs Last March Average

The March 11 telecast of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE hosted by Scarlett Johansson and featuring musical guest Lorde, scored a 4.8 rating, 13 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.2/12 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of March last year, THE MARCH 11 telecast is up +20% in meter-market households (4.8 vs. 4.0) and up +16% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.2 vs. 1.9 for the month of March 2016).

The 4.8 rating in households beats results for the final 10 "Saturday Night Live" originals from last season, while the 2.2 in 18-49 in the local people meters tops last season's final nine first-runs.

The March 11 "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. 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).

Saturday Primetime Ratings: Note: The NBC station in Raleigh carried college basketball.

A encore telecast of "The Voice" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET): Wins the time period among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in total viewers. Also ranks #1 among those networks in adults 25-54 and ties for #1 in adults 18-34.

A rebroadcast of "Taken" (0.4/1 in 18-49, 2.1 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET): Ties for #2 among the Big 4 networks in the timeslot in adults 18-34.

"SNL Vintage" (0.6/2 in 18-49, 2.4 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET, with an encore of the Jan. 9, 1999 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" with host Bill Paxton and musical guest Beck): Ties for #1 in the timeslot among ABC, CBS and NBC in men 25-54 and women 18-34. Ranks #2 among those nets in total viewers. Despite the 10 p.m. hour, grows +17% from its first half-hour to its second in adult 18-49 rating (0.6 to 0.7) and +29% in adults 25-54 (0.7 to 0.9).

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

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