ABC's 'Bachelorette' Builds Audience, Hits Season High

Driven by continuEd Strong returns from both The Bachelorette and True Beauty, ABC once again earned first place on Monday in both Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/8), hitting summer-highs on the night with its top summer performance since 7/27/09. In fact the Network ranked #1 in Adults 18-49 for its 4th straight Monday, beating second-place CBS by 50% (1.8/5), third-place Fox by 69% (1.6/5) and fourth-place NBC by 93% (1.4/4).

· Gaining overall audience year to year for the 5th week in a row, ABC built its Monday numbers over the same night last year (6/29/09) by 1.2 million viewers and 13% in Adults 18-49 (6.9 million and 2.4/7).

The time-period leader, ABC's The Bachelorette finished #1 for the 5th week in a row, overpowering its nearest 8-10pm competition (CBS) by 3.0 million viewers (9.7 million vs. 6.7 million) and by 60% (3.2/10 vs. 2.0/6). The veteran unscripted series gained overall audience during each half-hour of its 2-hour broadcast.

· The Bachelorette finished as Monday's #1 television program in Adults 18-49 for the 3rd week in a row, and for the 5th week running was the night's dominant #1 TV show across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· The Bachelorette achieved season-highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact excluding season finales, the series drew its biggest audience since February 2004 (since 2/18/04 during Season 2) and its highest Adult 18-49 rating since February 2005 (since 2/21/05 during Season 3).

· On average, The Bachelorette is up over its performance at the same point last year by 1.2 million viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49.

ABC's True Beauty ranked #1 in the 10 o'clock hour across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· On average, True Beauty is improving its time period year to year for ABC by 8% in Total Viewers.

Quick Take for Monday, June 28, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is No. 1 for the 4th Monday in a Row in Adults 18-49, Hitting Summer Highs on the Night in Viewers and Young Adults Since July 2009

ABC's "The Bachelorette" Leads its Slot for the 4th Week in a Row in Viewers And Young Adults, Hitting a Summer High in Adults 18-49

Excluding Season Finales, "The Bachelorette" Draws its Most-Watched Telecast Since February 2004 and Top Adults 18-49 Performance Since February 2005

On Average Year to Year, "The Bachelorette" is Up By 1.2 Million Viewers and by 13% in Adults 18-49

At 10pm, "True Beauty" is No. 1 Across All Key Women Demos

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

Driven by continuEd Strong returns from both "The Bachelorette" and "True Beauty," ABC once again earned first place on Monday in both Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/8), hitting summer highs on the night with its top summer performance since 7/27/09. In fact the Network ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 for its 4th straight Monday, beating second-place CBS by 50% (1.8/5), third-place Fox by 69% (1.6/5) and fourth-place NBC by 93% (1.4/4).

· Gaining overall audience year to year for the 5th week in a row, ABC built its Monday numbers over the same night last year (6/29/09) by 1.2 million viewers and 13% in Adults 18-49 (6.9 million and 2.4/7).

"The Bachelorette" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

The time-period leader, ABC's "The Bachelorette" finished No. 1 for the 5th week in a row, overpowering its nearest 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. competition (CBS) by 3.0 million viewers (9.7 million vs. 6.7 million) and by 60% (3.2/10 vs. 2.0/6). The veteran unscripted series gained overall audience during each half-hour of its 2-hour broadcast.

· "The Bachelorette" finished as Monday's No. 1 television program in Adults 18-49 for the 3rd week in a row, and for the 5th week running was the night's dominant No. 1 TV show across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· "The Bachelorette" achieved season-highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact excluding season finales, the series drew its biggest audience since February 2004 (since 2/18/04 during Season 2) and its highest Adult 18-49 rating since February 2005 (since 2/21/05 during Season 3).

· On average, "The Bachelorette" is up over its performance at the same point last year by 1.2 million viewers (9.0 million vs. 7.8 million) and by 7% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/8 vs. 2.8/8).

"True Beauty" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "True Beauty" ranked No. 1 in the 10 o'clock hour across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· On average, "True Beauty" is improving its time period year to year for ABC by 8% in Total Viewers (5.2 million vs. 4.8 million).

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 37% currently, from 32% 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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings), 6/28/10.

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