Broadcast primetime live + same-day ratings for Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015.
Note: Live telecasts on ABC and FOX could mean greater adjustments than usual for those networks in the final nationals. Additionally, CBS affiliates in New York and Dallas aired the NFL Network’s telecast of the Jets-Cowboys game, so ratings for the network may also be subject to larger adjustments.
The numbers for Saturday:
| Time | Show | Adults 18-49 Rating/Share | Viewers (millions) |
| 8 p.m. | Democratic Debate (ABC) (8-11 p.m.) | 1.1/4 | 6.71 |
| UFC Fight Night (FOX) (8-10 p.m.) | 0.9/3 | 2.28 | |
| NCIS (CBS) – R | 0.9/3 | 5.15 | |
| The Wiz Live (NBC) (8-11 p.m.) – R | 0.4/2 | 1.59 | |
| 9 p.m. | Criminal Minds (CBS) – R | 1.1/4 | 5.2 |
| 10 p.m. | 48 Hours (CBS) – R | 1.3/5 | 5.8 |
The second straight Democratic primary debate on a Saturday night drew lower ratings than the one in November, averaging a 1.1 for ABC. That was still good enough to tie CBS for the No. 1 spot in adults 18-49 for the night, pending updates. CBS may adjust down some as it had NFL pre-emptions in two large markets.
FOX’s live broadcast of “UFC Fight Night” averaged a 0.9, pending updates, while NBC reran “The Wiz Live” and scored a 0.4.
Network averages:
| ABC | CBS | FOX | NBC | ||
| Adults 18-49 rating/share | 1.1/4 | 1.1/4 | 0.9/3 | 0.4/2 | |
| Total Viewers (millions) | 6.71 | 5.39 | 2.28 | 1.59 |
In late night, “Saturday Night Live” drew its second-best metered market ratings of the season.
Definitions:
Rating: Estimated percentage of the universe of TV households (or other specified group) tuned to a program in the average minute. Ratings are expressed as a percent.
Fast Affiliate Ratings: These first national ratings are available at approximately 11 a.m. ET the day after telecast. The figures may include stations that did not air the entire network feed, as well as local news breaks or cutaways for local coverage or other programming. Fast Affiliate ratings are not as useful for live programs and are likely to differ significantly from the final results, because the data reflect normal broadcast feed patterns.
Share (of Audience): The percent of households (or persons) using television who are tuned to a specific program, station or network in a specific area at a specific time.
Time Shifted Viewing: Program ratings for national sources are produced in three streams of data – Live, Live +Same-Day and Live +7 Day. Time-shifted figures account for incremental viewing that takes place with DVRs. Live+SD includes viewing during the same broadcast day as the original telecast, with a cut-off of 3 a.m. local time when meters transmit daily viewing to Nielsen for processing. Live +7 ratings include viewing that takes place during the 7 days following a telecast.
Source: The Nielsen Company.
