ABC Finishes #2 For 2nd Week In A Row

During the week of April 26, 2010, ABC finished No. 2 to Fox for the 2nd week in a row among young Adults: Adults 18-49 (2.2/7-tie) and Adults 18-34 (1.7/6).

· ABC was up week to week in both Total Viewers (+4% - 7.7 million vs. 7.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+10% - 2.2/7 vs. 2.0/6).

· Despite NBC's enormous boost to its season averages from 17-nights of Winter Olympics coverage in February, ABC has moved ahead of NBC on a season-to-date basis in Total Viewers (8.5 million vs. 8.4 million) and pulled even among Adults 18-49 (2.7/7). Excluding the nights of Winter Olympics coverage from NBC's averages, ABC outdelivers NBC for the season by 1.4 million viewers and by 13% in Adults 18-49.

Rankings: The Net aired 4 of the week's Top 8 TV programs in Adults 18-49: "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 4, "Modern Family" - No. 5 (highest-ever weekly ranking), with "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives" tied at No. 8. ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" finished as the most-watched TV show overall for the 2nd week in a row, registering as the top series telecast on 4 of the past 5 Nielsen weeks. Hitting a series-high in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Modern Family" qualified as TV's No. 1 sit-com for the week.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 36% currently, from 31% at the same point in 2009. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Monday

Despite airing a repeat in the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV net for the 6th consecutive week, outdrawing second-place Fox with its all-original 8:00-10:00 p.m. line-up by 4.5 million viewers (14.5 million vs. 10.0 million). ABC was a strong second during prime to Fox (beating Fox by 14% in head-to-head competition from 8:00-10:00 p.m.) in Adults 18-49 (3.3/9), outdelivering CBS by 38% (2.4/7) and NBC by 94% (1.7/5).

· Although "Castle" was in repeat at 10:00 p.m. this year but an original on the year-ago night, ABC's Monday numbers grew year-to-year in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 for the 6th consecutive week (14.0 million and 3.2/9 on 4/27/09).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:32 p.m.)

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" won its time period for the 6th week running in both Total Viewers (20.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.4/12), leading second-place Fox with originals of "House" and "24" by 10.0 million viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49 (Fox = 10.3 million and 3.8/11). "DWTS" registered as Monday's most-watched television series for the 6th week in a row. The ABC dance performance program was also the night's No. 1 TV series with Adults 18-49 for the 5th time in 6 telecasts.

"Romantically Challenged" (9:32-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Romantically Challenged" took second in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour across key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). For the 2nd week in a row, "Romantically Challenged" improved its time period for ABC, over original comedy programming on the year-ago night in both Total Viewers (9.1 million vs. 9.0 million) and in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 2.2/5) - "Surviving Suburbia" on 4/27/09. "Romantically Challenged" exhibited solid retention of its week-ago series debut in viewers (85%) and young adults (90%).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's repeat "Castle" finished No. 1 in Monday's 10 o'clock hour among Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.9/6), the ABC sophomore drama's 4th time in 6 telecasts to top its hour on both Nielsen measures.

· "Castle" registered as the series' most-watched repeat ever and its second-highest-ever replay with Adults 18-49.

Tuesday

"DWTS the Results Show" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Once again improving its new earlier 8:00 p.m. time period against Fox's "American Idol," ABC's "DWTS the Results Show" outdrew NBC's "Biggest Loser" in the hour by 6.0 million viewers (12.4 million vs. 6.1 million) and tied the NBC time period veteran among Adults 18-49 (2.4/7). ABC's most recent star of "The Bachelor," Jake Pavelka, was the 5th celebrity dancer eliminated from the contest this season.

· The dancing results program generated huge year-to-year gains in the hour for ABC over the year-ago night with original programming, boosting the slot by +9.1 million viewers and +140% in Adults 18-49 (3.3 million and 1.0/3 with originals of "According to Jim"). In fact on average among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "DWTS the Results Show" is delivering ABC's best numbers in the time period against American Idol in 7 years - since 2003.

"Lost" (9:00-10:02 p.m.)

An encore telecast of "Lost" registered the series' biggest audience (5.6 million) for any repeat telecast in nearly 2 years and its highest Adult 18-49 number (1.8/5) in well over 1 year - since 5/29/08 and 2/18/09, respectively.

"V-TUE" (10:02-11:00 p.m.)

"V" finished No. 1 against its CBS and NBC drama competition in the hour with Men 18-49 (1.8/5) for the 5th consecutive week, topping originals of "The Good Wife" by 13% (1.6/5) and NBC's "Parenthood" by 13% (1.6/5). In addition "V" beat out CBS' "The Good Wife" for the 6th straight week among Adults 18-34.

· Building on its "Lost" lead-in by 6% among Adults 18-49, "V" continued to improve Tuesday's 10 o'clock hour for ABC, growing the slot by 19% over the year-ago night with original drama programming (1.9/5 vs. 1.6/4 - "Cupid"). In fact ABC was the only net to grow in the 10:00 p.m. hour year to year, as CBS (-12%) and NBC (-38%) were both down from the year-ago night.

Wednesday

ABC earned second place to an "Idol"-led Fox on Wednesday night among Adults 18-49 (2.4/7), beating third-place NBC by 26% (1.9/6) and fourth-place CBS by 33% (1.8/5).

· Among Total Viewers (6.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.4/7), ABC marked its strongest Wednesday in 11 weeks - since 2/10/10.

"The Middle" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Jumping over its lead-in, ABC's "The Middle" won its half-hour for its 2nd straight original telecast among Total Viewers (7.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.4/7). In fact among Adults 18-49, the ABC freshman comedy has finished as the No. 1 scripted show in its half-hour on 4 of its last 5 first-run broadcasts.

· Building its viewer and young adult numbers for its 2nd straight original airing, "The Middle" posted its best results in 5 weeks - since 3/24/10.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Opposite "Idol" at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" built sharply on its lead-in to stand as the No. 1 scripted show in its time slot among Total Viewers (10.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.2/12). In addition, "Modern Family" ran in a virtual tie with "American Idol" as the No. 1 program in the half-hour with Men 18-34 for its 3rd straight original, as the two shows once again tied in audience share (3.5/11 vs. 3.6/11).

· "Modern Family" drew its largest audience in nearly 4 months (since 1/6/10) and matched a series-high rating in Adults 18-49 (4.2/12), representing the series' best-ever performance against "American Idol" on both counts. "Modern Family" also achieved series highs across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

"Cougar Town" (9:30-10:01 p.m.)

Opposite the second half-hour of a surging "Idol," ABC freshman "Cougar Town" qualified as the No. 1 scripted program at 9:30pm in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7) for the 3rd time in its last 4 original telecasts. In addition, the ABC freshman series marked its 4th consecutive original airing as the top-rated scripted show in its slot with Men 18-34.

· "Cougar Town" was up over its most recent original in Total Viewers (+12% - 6.5 million vs. 5.8 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+12% - 2.8/7 vs. 2.5/7), drawing its largest audience since January and top young adult number since the beginning of February - since 1/20/10 and 2/3/10, respectively. In fact "Cougar Town" generated its largest-ever audience against "Idol."

"Happy Town" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

The series debut of "Happy Town" ranked No. 2 against its veteran NBC ("L&O: SVU") and CBS ("CSI: NY") drama competition in the 10:00 p.m. hour with Adults 18-49 (1.7/5) and Adults 18-34 (1.3/4).

· "Happy Town" improved its hour for ABC both year to year and over the Net's averages this season with regular programming. ABC was up year to year in the hour by 8% in Total Viewers (5.3 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 13% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.5/4), over the year-ago night with original drama programming ("The Unusuals"). The new series also improved its time period over the Net's averages with regular programming this season by 13% in Total Viewers and by 6% in Adults 18-49 ("Eastwick"/Ugly Betty" = 4.7 million and 1.6/5).

Thursday

ABC took second place on the opening night of the May Sweep among Total Viewers (7.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.8/8), while dominating Thursday with Women 18-34 (3.6/11). In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC marked its 2nd straight week of gains on the night with its strongest Thursday in 5 weeks - since 3/25/10.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)

On its first original telecast since the beginning of April, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" jumped 138% over its lead-in to win the 9:00 p.m. hour by strong margins among Adults 18-49. During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Grey's" (3.8/11) defeated second-place NBC by 19% (3.2/9 - "The Office"/"30 Rock"), third-place CBS by 27% (3.0/9 - "CSI") and fourth-place Fox by 90% (2.0/6 - "Fringe"). "Grey's" marked its 18th time in 19 original broadcasts this season to qualify as Thursday's No. 1 scripted series with Adults 18-49.

· "Grey's" posted its highest Adult 18-49 rating in nearly 2 months - since 3/11/10.

"Private Practice" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Private Practice" ran a strong second to CBS' "The Mentalist" in 10 o'clock hour among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, beating out NBC's "Marriage Ref" by a best-ever 3.4 million viewers (7.8 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 53% (2.9/9 vs. 1.9/6), respectively. The ABC sophomore drama dominated the hour over its CBS drama competition with Adults 18-34, beating "The Mentalist" by 50% (2.7/9 vs. 1.8/6). In fact it was the 19th consecutive original telecast this season for "Private Practice" to register as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot among Adults 18-34, as well as key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· "Private Practice" delivered its top Adult 18-49 rating (tie) since early February - since 2/11/10.

Sunday

ABC won Sunday for the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49 (2.6/8), beating CBS by 8% (2.4/7), Fox by 13% (2.3/7) and NBC by 24% (2.1/6). It was ABC's 6th straight year to win the opening Sunday of the May Sweep.

· Growing its overall audience (9.0 million) on the night for the 2nd consecutive week, ABC marked its best Sunday numbers in 7 weeks among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 - since 3/14/10.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m.)

ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" ran a strong No. 2 in the 7 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (1.7/6), while ranking No. 1 with Adults 18-34 (tie) and as the top-rated broadcast with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" built its Total Viewer count for its 3rd straight telecast, drawing its largest audience (8.7 million) since January and tying its top Adult 18-49 number (2.4/7) since February - since 1/10/10 and 2/21/10, respectively.

"Desperate Housewives" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)

ABC's "Desperate Housewives" won the 9 o'clock hour in viewers (12.1 million) and young adults (3.8/10), finishing as Sunday's No. 1 TV show for the 3rd consecutive week in Adults 18-49 (tie). In addition, the ABC veteran series marked its 8th consecutive original broadcast as Sunday's No. 1 scripted TV show in viewers and young adults.

· Growing for its 2nd straight telecast with viewers and young adults, "Housewives" marked its best numbers since January - since 1/10/10 and 1/17/10, respectively.

"Brothers & Sisters" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" took second place in the 10 o'clock hour with Total Viewers (8.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.4/7), while ranking No. 1 against the final hours of CBS' 2-hour "Cold Case" season finale and NBC's 2-hour "Celebrity Apprentice" among Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Building its numbers for the 2nd week in a row, "Brothers & Sisters" marked its top performance for a 1-hour broadcast in 7 weeks with Total Viewers and since February in Adults 18-49 (tie) - since 3/14/10 and 2/28/10, respectively.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 4/26/10, unless stated otherwise.

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