ABC Is Up Week To Week In Viewers And Young Adults

During the week of April 12, 2010, ABC delivered 6 of the Top 20 TV programs in Adults 18-49, including 3 of the Top 10: "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 5, "Lost" - No. 8, "Modern Family" - No. 10, "Desperate Housewives" - No. 11, "Castle" - No. 15 and "DWTS the Results Show" - No. 20. The Net also claimed 3 of the week's Top 10 most-watched shows overall: "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 3, "DWTS the Results Show" - No. 6 and "Castle" - No. 10 .

· ABC was up week to week in Total Viewers (+5% - 7.8 million vs. 7.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.2/7 vs. 2.1/6), while also growing its overall audience by 4% year to year (w/o 4/13/09 = 7.5 million). In fact, ABC was the only major broadcast net to grow its overall audience from the same week last year.

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

Opposite all-original competition on the evening from CBS and Fox, ABC stood as Monday's most-watched network for the 4th week in a row (18.0 million) and also won the night for the 3rd time in 4 weeks with Adults 18-49 (4.3/12), beating out its nearest competition by 7.5 million viewers and by 19% in young adults (CBS = 10.5 million and 3.6/10).

· ABC's numbers surged over the year-ago Monday by 4.1 million viewers and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (13.9 million and 3.4/9 on 4/13/09).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:02 p.m.)

Monday's most-watched TV show overall, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" won its time period for the 4th week running in both Total Viewers (20.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.9/14). "DWTS" led its time period by wide margins, beating out second-place CBS with its original 2-hour comedy block by 10.3 million viewers and by 26% in Adults 18-49 ("How I Met Your Mother"/"Rules of Engagement"/"Two and a Half Men"/"The Big Bang Theory" = 10.3 million and 3.9/11).

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

For the 4th week in a row, ABC's "Castle" finished as the No. 1 series in Monday's 10 o'clock hour among Total Viewers (12.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.0/9). In fact ABC's "Castle" drew a bigger audience than CBS' "CSI: Miami" for their 2nd straight original match-up in the time period, and by an even wider margin. Growing week to week, "Castle" drew its 2nd-largest-ever audience and posted the series' 3rd-highest Adult 18-49 rating.

· The ABC sophomore drama was up sharply over its performance on the same night last year, jumping by 5.4 million viewers and 58% in Adults 18-49 year to year (7.3 million and 1.9/5 on 4/13/09).

Tuesday

With its lineup of "DWTS the Results Show," "Lost" and "V," ABC grew its Tuesday numbers year to year for the 3rd week in a row. ABC's results were up over the same Tuesday last year (4/14/09), also a night of all-original programming, by 10% in Total Viewers (9.6 million vs. 8.7 million) and by 36% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/8 vs. 2.2/6).

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

Improving its new earlier 8 o'clock time period year to year for ABC against Fox's "American Idol," ABC's "DWTS the Results Show" finished as the second-most-watched TV program in its hour (13.6 million), outdrawing the opening hour of NBC's "Biggest Loser" by 6.1 million viewers (7.5 million) and CBS' "NCIS" encore by 2.5 million viewers (11.1 million). Actor Aiden Turner was the 3rd celebrity to be eliminated from the dance competition this season.

· Drawing its 2nd-highest numbers this season, the ABC dancing results show was up over the prior week by 1.2 million viewers (13.6 million vs. 12.4 million) and by 12% with Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 vs. 2.5/7). The broad appealing show hit a season-high number with Kids 2-11 (1.4/5).

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

Opposite stiff original demographic competition at 9:00 p.m. on Fox (third half-hour of "American Idol" into the highly-promoted return of "Glee") and NBC (second hour of a 2-hour "Biggest Loser"), ABC's "Lost" surged from its lead-in by 39% in Adults 18-49 (3.9/10), beating out its non-"Idol"-driven competition in the time period on NBC ("Biggest Loser" = 3.7/9) and CBS ("NCIS: LA" replay = 1.9/5).

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

Opposite Fox's special "Glee" overrun, ABC's "V" finished No. 2 against its regular 10 o'clock competition among young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49), while leading its NBC ("Parenthood") and CBS ("The Good Wife") drama competition for the 3rd consecutive week across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

· "V" continued to grow the time period year to year for ABC over original drama programming on the year-ago night ("Cupid"), boosting the 10:00 p.m. hour by 29% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 1.7/5).

Wednesday

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

Surging from its lead-in by 44% at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" won its half-hour among Adults 18-49 (2.3/7), beating competition, including the second half-hour of Fox's season finale of "Human Target" (2.1/7). ABC freshman "The Middle" also beat out its comedy competition in the slot, defeating CBS' freshman "Accidentally On Purpose" by 21% (1.9/6). In fact, among young adults, the ABC freshman series has been the top-rated scripted show in its slot on 3 of its last 4 original telecasts.

· "The Middle" was up from its most recent original telecast by 8% in Total Viewers (6.7 million vs. 6.2 million) and by 15% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 vs. 2.0/6).

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

Opposite Fox's "American Idol" at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" built on its lead-in by 61% to finish as the No. 1 scripted show in its time slot among Adults 18-49, beating CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 16% (3.7/10 vs. 3.2/9). For its 2nd straight original telecast, the ABC rookie series finished in a virtual tie with "American Idol" as the No. 1 program in the half-hour with Men 18-34 (2.8/10 vs. 3.0/10).

· "Modern Family" qualified as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show in young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) for its 8th consecutive original broadcast.

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

Airing against a surging "American Idol," ABC freshman "Cougar Town" stood as the No. 1 scripted show at 9:30 p.m. among Adults 18-34 (2.0/6), Men 18-34 (1.5/5-tie) and Women 18-34 (2.6/7). In fact, it was the ABC freshman series' 3rd consecutive original airing to register as the highest-rated scripted show in its slot on all 3 Nielsen measures.

· For the night, "Cougar Town" ranked as Wednesday's No. 2 scripted TV show with Women 18-34, behind only "Modern Family."

"Ugly Betty" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

Jumping week to week by 1.4 million viewers (5.4 million vs. 4.0 million) and by 21% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.4/4), ABC's series finale of "Ugly Betty" hit season-highs with viewers and young adults.

Friday

ABC ranked No. 1 on Friday against its broadcast rivals among Adults 18-49 (1.3/4-tie), as "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" and "20/20" tied as the night's highest-rated shows across ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

"Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" (9:00-10:00 p.m.):

Once again jumping from lead-in at 9:00 p.m. among Total Viewers (+37%) and Adults 18-49 (+56%) and gaining audience throughout its broadcast, ABC freshman "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" ranked No. 1 in the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (1.4/5-tie), registering as the top-rated series in the slot on 3 of 4 telecasts. In addition, "Food Revolution" won its hour for the 3rd time in 4 weeks with Women 18-34 (1.7/6).

"20/20" (10:00-11:00 p.m.):

ABC News' "20/20" won the 10 o'clock hour with Adults 18-49 (1.4/5), beating out NBC's "Dateline" by 8% (1.3/4) and CBS' "Miami Medical" by 17% (1.2/4). "20/20" co-anchor and chief legal correspondent Chris Cuomo brought viewers an hour-long report on the results of his five-month investigation into the disappearance and murder of 7-year-old Somer Thompson from a crowded sidewalk -- in broad daylight -- less than a mile from her home.

· Building week to week by 10% in viewers and by 8% in young adults, "20/20" generated its best numbers in 3 weeks - since 3/26/10.

Sunday

Up against competition from CBS' 3-hour broadcast of the "Academy of Country Music Awards," ABC earned second place Sunday night in Total Viewers (8.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.3/6). Although half of its schedule was in repeat (7:00-9:00 p.m.), ABC defeated NBC's all-original Sunday lineup by 1.8 million viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (NBC's "Dateline"/"Minute To Win It"/2-hour "Celebrity Apprentice" = 6.2 million and 2.1/6).

· Marking its 3rd consecutive Sunday of week-to-week growth, ABC turned in its highest Adult 18-49 rating on the evening in 5 weeks - since 3/14/10.

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

ABC's repeat airing of "America's Funniest Home Videos" finished No. 1 in the 7 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (1.7/6), beating originals of CBS' "60 Minutes" by 13% (1.5/5) and NBC's "Dateline" by 31% (1.3/4).

· In Total Viewers (6.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.7/6), "AFV" turned in its strongest repeat performance since December - since 12/20/09.

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

Opposite the opening hour of CBS' "Academy of Country Music Awards," a repeat of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" stood as the most-watched TV series from 8:00-9:00 p.m.

· In viewers (6.7 million-tie) and young adults (1.9/5-tie), "Home Edition" posted its best repeat numbers in 1 year - since 4/19/09.

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

Leading its regular competition in the 9 o'clock hour by wide margins among Total Viewers (10.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.3/8), ABC's "Desperate Housewives" emerged as Sunday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49. Returning to original for the first time in 4 weeks, "Housewives" outperformed its nearest series competition in the time period by 4.0 million viewers (NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" = 6.6 million) and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (Fox's "Family Guy"/"American Dad" = 2.7/7).

· "Housewives" marked its 6th straight original telecast as Sunday's No. 1 scripted TV show in viewers and young adults.

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

Opposite the final hour of CBS' awards show, ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" stood as the No. 1 series in the 10:00 p.m. hour across all key Women demographics: W18-34 (2.2/6), W18-49 (2.9/7), and W25-54 (3.8/9).

Source: The Nielsen Company (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 4/12/10, unless stated otherwise.

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