ABC Sees 3 Top 20 TV Shows In Ratings For The Week

During the week of March 5, 2010, ABC aired 3 of the Top 20 TV shows in Adults 18-49, including 2 of the Top 6 and the No. 1 scripted show: "Dancing with the Stars" No. 4, "Lost" No. 6 (No. 1 scripted show) and "Castle" No. 18. Although "Grey's" was in repeat and "Housewives" didn't air this week, ABC delivered the No. 1 scripted TV show for the 2nd straight week in Adults 18-49.

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" finished as the most-watched regular TV show for the 2nd week in a row. Despite airing against the NCAA Basketball Men's Championship on Monday, "Dancing with the Stars" became the first regular TV series in 5 years to top both installments of "American Idol" for 2 consecutive weeks (since April '05 w/o 4/11 and 4/18/05) and just the 2nd-time-ever in the history of the Fox show.

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

Up against CBS' coverage of the 2010 NCAA Basketball Men's Championship Game on the night, ABC stood as Monday's most-watched network for the 3rd straight week (18.2 million) and qualified as the No. 1 non-sports net with Adults 18-49 (4.4/12). The Network's results jumped over the year-ago Monday by 3.2 million viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (15.0 million and 3.6/9 on 4/6/09).

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

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" finished as Monday's No. 1 regular program and won its time period for the 3rd consecutive week with Total Viewers (21.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (5.1/14). Despite airing against the most-watched NCAA Championship Game in 11 years (since 1999), "DWTS" posted its strongest-ever performance on the night of the NCAA Basketball Men's Championship, surging by 1.3 million viewers and by 11% in Adults 18-49 over the year-ago night against the game (19.9 million and 4.6/12 on 4/6/09).

· "DWTS" beat the combined performances of NBC (originals of "Chuck"/"Trauma") and Fox (2-hour original "24") in its 2-hour time period by 8.4 million viewers (21.2 million vs. 12.8 million) and by 23% in Adults 18-49 (5.1/14 vs. 4.1/11).

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

For the 3rd week in a row, ABC's "Castle" finished as the No. 1 series in the 10 o'clock hour in both Total Viewers (11.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.98). "Castle" was way up over its performance on the same night last year opposite the NCAA Basketball Championship, as the ABC sophomore drama built its numbers by 2.7 million viewers and by 26% in Adults 18-49 year to year (9.0 million and 2.3/6 on 4/6/09).

Tuesday

With its lineup of "DWTS the Results Show," "Lost" and "V," ABC ranked No. 2 for the 2nd straight Tuesday to Fox's 2-hour "Idol" among young Adults: AD18-34 (2.5/8) and AD18-49 (3.0/8).

· Improving its Tuesday results year to year for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's numbers surged over the same night last year (4/7/09) by 1.0 million viewers (9.3 million vs. 8.3 million) and by 43% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/8 vs. 2.1/5).

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

Improving its new earlier 8 o'clock time period year to year for ABC opposite Fox's "American Idol" and CBS' "NCIS," ABC's "DWTS the Results Show" outdrew NBC's time-slot regular, "The Biggest Loser," by 5.4 million viewers (12.4 million vs. 7.0 million). Astronaut, scientist, inventor, best-selling author, advocate for man's future in space, Buzz Aldrin was the second celebrity to be eliminated from the competition this season.

· The ABC dancing results show boosted the hour year to year for the Net by 8.0 million viewers (12.4 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 108% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/7 vs. 1.2/3) over the year-ago night with its annual telecast of "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown."

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

Opposite stiff original competition at 9:00 p.m. on Fox (second hour of a 2-hour "American Idol"), CBS ("NCIS: LA") and NBC (second hour of a 2-hour "The Biggest Loser"), ABC's "Lost" built on its lead-in by 56% in Adults 18-49. Beating out its non-"Idol" competition in the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49, "Lost" (3.9/10) defeated CBS' "NCIS: LA" by 30% (3.0/8) and NBC's "The Biggest Loser" by 18% (3.3/9).

· "Lost" qualified as Tuesday's No. 1 scripted TV show for the 10th consecutive week in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and among key Men (M18-34/M18-49).

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

Opposite originals of CBS' "The Good Wife" and NBC's "Parenthood," ABC's "V" landed at No. 2 in the 10 o'clock hour among young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49), while ranking No. 1 in its slot for the 2nd straight week across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54). "V" continued to deliver ABC's strongest series numbers in the hour this season among Adults 18-49.

· "V" greatly improved the time period year to year for ABC over original drama programming on the year-ago night, jumping by 50% among Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 1.6/4 "Cupid").

Wednesday

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

ABC's "The Middle" drew its best numbers in the time period for a repeat telecast in both Total Viewers (5.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.7/5-tied) in over 3 months - since 12/23/09.

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

ABC's "Modern Family" turned in its best performance for a rebroadcast episode in its half-hour in both Total Viewers (5.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.9/5) since December - since 12/16/09 and 12/2/09, respectively.

Thursday

"FlashForward" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

ABC's "FlashForward" was up over the previous week by in 8% Total Viewers (5.4 million vs. 5.0 million) and by 7% in Adults 18-49 audience (1.6/5 vs. 1.5/5).

Friday

ABC finished No. 2 on Friday among Adults 18-49 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

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

Continuing to surge over its lead-in at 9pm among Total Viewers (+34%) and Adults 18-49 (+78%) and building throughout its telecast, ABC freshman "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" ran a strong second in its slot to CBS' time-period-established "Medium" in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5 vs. 1.7/6), beating out Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" by 7% (1.5/5) and NBC's "Dateline" by 33% (1.2/4). "Food Revolution" ranked No. 1 in the hour with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, the show's 3rd straight week to win its time slot on the latter measure.

· The new ABC series stood as Friday's No. 1 freshman TV show with Adults 18-49, outdelivering Week 2 of CBS' freshman "Miami Medical" on the night by 14% (1.4/4 from 10:00-11:00 p.m.).

· "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" was up week to week by 9% in Total Viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49.

Sunday

Opposite CBS' Masters Golf Tournament-boosted lineup with an overrun into the opening hour of prime, ABC held the No. 2 position on Sunday night among Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.2/7-tie).

· Marking its 2nd straight week of Sunday gains, ABC turned in its best numbers on the night in 4 weeks since 3/14/10.

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

Up against a Masters-led CBS in the 7 o'clock hour, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" earned a solid second place in Total Viewers (6.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.6/5), defeating NBC's "Dateline" (3.7 million and 0.8/3) by 2.7 million viewers and by 100% in Adults 18-49.

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

Surging from its lead-in by +2.1 million viewers +50% in Adults 18-49 and building sharply during its telecast, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" made ABC the second-most-watched network (8.5 million) in the 8 o'clock hour to CBS.

· "Home Edition" marked its highest-rated telecast among Adults 18-49 (2.4/7) in nearly 2 months since 2/21/10.

"Brothers & Sisters" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

Building on its lead-in and gaining audience throughout its 2-hour broadcast, ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" finished No. 2 to CBS in the 9:00-11:00 p.m. time period, outdrawing NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" by 2.1 million viewers in head-to-head competition (8.8 million vs. 6.7 million).

· In Total Viewers (8.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/7-tie), "Brothers & Sisters" generated its best numbers since January since 1/10/10 and 1/17/10, respectively.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 4/5/10, unless stated otherwise.

 

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