'James Comey – An ABC News Exclusive Event Interview' Draws a Big 9.8 Million Viewers to ABC on Sunday

ABC Sunday Primetime (7:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.1 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49):
Boosted by "James Comey - An ABC News Exclusive Event Interview" and competing against CBS' 3-hour "ACM Awards" broadcast, ABC finished a strong 2nd on Sunday night in Total Viewers (7.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.4/5), posting 5-week highs on the evening - since 3/11/18.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m. - 6.2 million and 1.2/5 in AD18-49):
Rising over its last original 3 weeks ago by 19% in Total Viewers (6.2 million vs. 5.2 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/5 vs. 0.9/4), ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" hit a new season high in Total Viewers and a 3-month high in young adults (since 1/14/18).

"American Idol" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 6.3 million and 1.3/5 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:00 p.m. opposite CBS' annual "ACM Awards" broadcast, ABC's "American Idol" took 2nd in its 2-hour slot and was the night's No. 1 broadcast seriesin Adults 18-49 (1.3/5). Despite the stiff competition from CBS' COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS show and AMC's "The Walking Dead" finale, "Idol" improved over the year-ago night with "Once Upon a Time" and "Match Game" by 152% in Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 2.5 million) and by 86% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/5 vs. 0.7/2). On average season to date, "American Idol" delivers ABC's best numbers to the 2-hour time period in 4 years in Total Viewers and in 3 years among Adults 18-49 - since 2014 and 2015, respectively.

"James Comey - An ABC News Exclusive Event Interview" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.8 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):
Building sharply on its "American Idol" lead-in against the final hour of CBS' "ACM Awards" broadcast at 10:00 p.m., ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos' "James Comey Interview" drew an average audience of 9.8 million viewers with a 1.7/6 in Adults 18-49 and a 2.4/7 in Adults 25-54.

• "James Comey - An ABC News Exclusive Event Interview" stands as ABC's top newsmagazine/interview telecast in 3 years in Total Viewers and in nearly 2 ½ years in Adults 25-54 - since 4/24/15 (Caitlyn Jenner) and 10/30/15 (Leah Remini/Scientology), respectively.

• Excluding only the Academy Awards®, George Stephanopoulos' "James Comey Interview" delivered ABC's biggest numbers to Sunday's 10 o'clock hour since its record-setting "New Year's Rockin' Eve" telecast - since 12/31/17.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 4/15/18.