ABC's CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL Gains Viewers Year to Year & Wins Time Slot

"CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.5 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49): With its 3-hour broadcast of the "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," ABC took second on Wednesday among Total Viewers (5.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.1/4-tie), while finishing #1 on the night in Adults 25-54 (tie), Adults 18-34 and across key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Moving up to take the lead at 9 p.m. after CBS' "Big Brother," the show ranked #1 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 in each half-hour from 9-11 p.m.

• Building from its first hour to its final hour by 10% in Total Viewers and by 20% among Adults 18-49, the "CMA Music Festival" won the 10 o' clock hour over NBC's "Night Shift" by 1.0 million viewers and by 50% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/5 vs. 0.8/3).

• "The CMA Music Festival" was up 6% year to year in Total Viewers (5.5 million vs. 5.2 million) and steady with its year-ago telecast (on Tuesday, 8/4/15) in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4 vs. 1.2/4).

• ABC delivered its 2nd strongest non-sports Wednesday this summer in viewers and young adults.

Projections Rationale: Lifts vs. L+SD are based on 2015-16 season averages for originals (excluding the premiere).
Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).
New Series: Based on similar series.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 49% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate Nielsen measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 8/3/16.

Photo credit: ABC/ Mark Levine*

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