SNL Ratings Slip with Lena Dunham as Host

Saturday Primetime Results: NBC finished first among the Big 4 networks in 18-49 Saturday night, ranking #1 among those nets during six of six Primetime half-hours with "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" and the 10 p.m. "Saturday Night Live" encore tying for the #1 Primetime rating of the night on the Big 4 networks.

The debut of "Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) matched NBC's best 18-49 rating in the slot, excluding sports in a year and a half (since Sept. 15, 2012) and delivered the biggest overall audience in the time period, excluding sports in three years (since March 5, 2011). In the time period, " Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" ranked #1 or tied for #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in every key measure - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers.

"Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" grew throughout its two hours, with this half-hour by half-hour 18-49 track: 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.1. From its first half-hour to its fourth, the special grew by 83% in 18-49 rating, 78% in adults 25-54 (to a 1.6 rating from a 0.9) and 53% or 2.1 million persons in total viewers (to 6.1 million from 4.0 million).

A rebroadcast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Melissa McCarthy and musical guest Imagine Dragons (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won The Hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and tied "Dateline Mysteries" for the #1 rating of the night on the Big 4 networks. From its first half-hour to its second, the 10 p.m. "SNL" encore grew by 11% in adults 18-49 (to a 1.0 rating from a 0.9), 17% in adults 18-34 (0.7 vs. 0.6) and 40% in men 18-34 (0.7 vs. 0.5).

In Late-Night Metered-Market Household Averages for Saturday night:

"Saturday Night Live," with host Lena Dunham and musical guest The National, averaged a 4.1/11 in household results in Nielsen's 56 metered markets and a 2.1/10 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters, making it the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters.

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

To post a comment, you must register and login.