VERSUS THE YEAR-AGO PREMIERE,"SNL" IS UP +26% IN 18-49 AND UP +1.7 MILLION VIEWERS OVERALL

LAST SEASON, "SNL" REACHED MORE THAN 93 MILLION VIEWERS

DELAYED VIEWING: LAST SEASON'S "SNL" PREMIERE HAS TRIPLED IN 18-49 TO A 4.1 RATING COUNTING DELAYED VIEWING ON ALL PLATFORMS, AND BY +6.5 MILLION VIEWERS TO 12.6 MILLION

DIGITAL / SOCIAL: "SNL" WAS LAST SEASON'S #2 MOST-VIEWED TV ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM ON YOUTUBE; OFFICIAL VIDEO VIEWS CLIMBED +33% SEASON TO SEASON

Note these fast-affiliate ratings do not include out-of-home viewing that will be counted in official-national results issued by Nielsen on Tuesday.

The 46th season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" has generated the show's #1 most-watched season debut in four years and second-most-watched in 12 years, according to "fast official" "live plus same day" results from Nielsen Media Research.

The Oct. 3 edition, with host Chris Rock and musical guest Megan Thee Stallion, has averaged a 1.68 rating in adults 18-49 and 7.765 million viewers overall. That makes it the #1 most-watched entertainment telecast of the week to date on the Big 4 networks and #2 in adults 18-49 behind only "The Masked Singer" (1.87).

It's "SNL's" #1 most-watched season premiere since 2016 (8.297 million with host Margot Robbie and musical guest The Weeknd on Oct. 1, 2016), and excluding that telecast, the most-watched season debut since 2008 (10.151 million with host Michael Phelps and musical guest Lil Wayne on Sept. 13, 2008).

Excluding last season's historic Dec. 21 telecast hosted by Eddie Murphy with musical guest Lizzo, it's "SNL's" #1 most-watched edition, premiere or otherwise, in more than three years, since the 2016-17 season finale (8.275 million with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest Katy Perry on May 20, 2017), as well as the top-rated in 18-49, excluding the Eddie Murphy episode, in two years, since the Sept. 29, 2018 season premiere (1.86 with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West).

Versus the year-ago premiere, last night's telecast is up +26% in 18-49 (1.68 vs. 1.33) and up +1.7 million persons or +27% in total viewers (7.765 million vs. 6.107 million).

Through the course of last season, "SNL" reached more than 93 million viewers.

Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting. To date, last season's Sept. 28 premiere has tripled in 18-49 rating with digital and linear delayed viewing to date, increasing by +205% from a 1.33 to a 4.06, and by +6.5 million persons from 6.1 million to 12.6 million in total viewers.

The Dec. 21, 2019 telecast, with host Eddie Murphy and musical guest Lizzo, has grown to a 7.09 rating in 18-49 and 21.6 million viewers overall with delayed viewing on digital and linear platforms to date.

Digital / Social: "Saturday Night Live" ranked as last season's #2 most-viewed TV Entertainment program on YouTube, behind only "Tonight," generating 1.5 billion views on the platform (Source: ListenFirst Media Brand Rankings; LF//TV Universe // Episodic; Brand Type: TV Shows; New Video Views [YouTube]; 09/16/20-05/20/20 excludes WWE and Children's programs). Official YouTube video views were up +33% season to season.

Due to inconsistent start times across time zones, Saturday's fast-affiliate ratings will not be reliable for last night's NBC's primetime programming.

NOTE: Primetime results are based on "fast affiliate time period" data from Nielsen Media Research. All ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.