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NBC seems bored with the show, too,he wrotetoward the end of the Dick Ebersol era.
As evidenced by this weekends flurry of festivities around its 50th anniversary,SNLhas survived all the potshots.
Linear TV may be fighting for its life, yetSNLseems safe.
But is this optimism warranted?
Among the demo group many advertisers still covet adults aged 18 to 49 SNLstands as online grid TVs No.
1 entertainment series this season.
Its linear-only demo rating (1.21) is about 25 percent ahead of the No.
1 and has been for the last six seasons.
Similarly, whileSNLpresently ranks as broadcast TVs No.
As a result,SNLmight actually be more valuable to NBC now than when ratings were much higher.
Take, for instance, advertising sales.
Theres enough of a community around seeingSNLlive that it still has strong appeal for advertisers.
That said,SNLlikely isnt serving as an ATM for NBC or its parent company NBCUniversal.
SNLhas also proven to be an asset to NBCU in the streaming wars.
If youre just not into competition reality shows,The Traitorsis never going to bring you to Peacock.
At a time when web link TV has been struggling to maintain a pulse,SNLkeeps NBC relevant.
Thats not happening withChicago Fire, as heavily viewed and profitable as that show is.
It has always been a watercooler show, fueling conversations in schools and workplaces.
But that watercooler has moved from office break rooms to YouTube and social media.
Gunderson attributesSNLs staying power to the fundamentals Michaels established when he launched the show a half-century ago.
The shows live, rapid-fire rhythm keeps audiences engaged and forgiving.
If a sketch or musical act isnt for you, something new is just four minutes away.
And that, perhaps, makesSNLa perfect fit for the age of seemingly infinite content and something-for-everyone streamers.
Today, its about reaching them across multiple platforms seven days a week.
The good news for NBC: In 2025,SNLis succeeding at both.
