Week 32: ABC brags “we’re #2!”

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ABCOverall: During the week of 4/23/12, ABC ranked #2 for the 2nd straight week in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, marking its most competitive finish this season in viewers outside of Academy Awards week (pacing within 400k of first place CBS).  Among Adults 18-49, the Net held double-digit advantages over third-place CBS (+18%) and fourth-place NBC (+25%).  In fact, ABC defeated NBC for the 7th week running with young adults.  The Net delivered 5 of the Top 20 TV shows in Adults 18-49, placing 3 in the Top 10 and claiming the #1 drama with Grey’s Anatomy and the #1 freshman series with Once Upon a Time:  Grey’s Anatomy – #6, DWTS – #8, Once Upon a Time – #9, Desperate Housewives – #14 and DWTS Results Show – #16.  Additionally, ABC’s Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23 and Scandal tied as the top-rated new midseason series with young adults.  The Network delivered 3 of the Top 10 most-watched programs, as ABC’s Dancing with the Stars emerged as the #1 TV show overall for the first time this season:  DWTS – #1, DWTS Results Show – #4 and 20/20 SP Edition – #9.  ABC aired the Top 2 newsmagazines in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, with A Special Edition of 20/20 on Monday and 20/20 in its regular slot on Friday, respectively.  Building its numbers for the 2nd consecutive week in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+5%), ABC generated its most-watched non-Oscar week in 5 months – since w/o 11/21/11.


Monday: Featuring DWTS and A Special Edition of 20/20 with a behind-the-scenes look at Dancing, ABC registered as Monday’s most-watched television network for the 6th week in a row, eclipsing original programming on NBC (The Voice/Smash) by 6.5 million viewers and Fox (Bones/House) by 8.5 million viewers.  Ranking #2 on the night in Adults 18-49, ABC defeated Fox’s original drama lineup by 27%.  The Net’s Monday was up for the 2nd week in a row among both viewers (+3%) and young adults (+8%).  Monday’s most-watched TV program, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars jumped to the top its 2-hour time slot for the 6th week running, besting runner-up NBC’s The Voice in head-to-head competition by a best-yet 7.3 million viewers.  In addition, the wide-appealing dance competition ranked #1 in the slot with Adults 25-54, while earning second with young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) and making ABC the #2 broadcaster in the slot with Teens 12-17.  For the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49, Dancing scored its most competitive finish with The Voice, shrinking the gap to 16% (down from 22% the prior week).  Dancing was up week to week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%), while spiking 36% in Adults 18-34 to achieve a best-since-premiere number – since 3/19/12.  A Special Edition of 20/20 finished #1 during the 10 o’clock hour in Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, helping ABC to hold the top spot for the 2nd week in a row.  In fact, the ABC newsmagazine stood as Monday’s 2nd-most-watched TV show overall, attracting a larger audience than NBC’s The Voice.  In the hour, 20/20 outdelivered NBC’s first-run Smash by 4.7 million viewers, by 5% in Adults 18-49 and by 29% in Adults 25-54.  In Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54), 20/20 qualifies as ABC’s top newsmagazine telecast in over 5 months – since 11/14/11.

Tuesday: With a repeat Last Man Standing, Cougar Town, DWTS Results Show and a soaring Private Practice on its new night, ABC registered as Tuesday’s 2nd-most-watched TV network to CBS, increasing its lead week to week over NBC to 2.6 million viewers and Fox to 3.9 million viewers.  In addition, ABC ranked #1 on the night in Adults 25-54.  Despite starting off the night with a repeat, ABC was up over last week’s all-original schedule in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+5%). At 8pm, ABC’s replay Last Man Standing stood as Tuesday’s most-watched sit-com, pulling in 10% more viewers than Fox’s first-run Glee-led New Girl in the 9pm half-hour. Bettering its last encore airing by 8%, ABC’s Last Man Standing generated the series’ 2nd-most-watched repeat in the half-hour. In the 8:30pm half-hour, ABC’s Cougar Town built on its lead-in by 15% in Adults 18-49 and, although it aired coming out of a repeat, grew week to week in viewers (+8%) and young adults (+7%).  In fact, the ABC comedy turned in its most-watched broadcast this season. Leaping over its lead-in at 9pm to emerge as Tuesday’s most-watched TV program, ABC’s DWTS Results Show qualified as the top draw in its slot for the 5th week in a row, defeating its unscripted competition on NBC (Voice Results) by an increasing 5.6 million viewers (up from a 5.3 million viewer advantage the prior week).  In addition, the wide-appealing ABC unscripted series finished #2 in the hour in both Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 for the 2nd week in a row.   Empress of Soul Gladys Knight was the fifth celebrity to leave the dance competition this season.  Hitting 3-week highs, ABC’s DWTS Results Show was up week to week in Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 25-54 (+3%).  In the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s Private Practice posted a strong first-place finish with Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.  Retaining an impressive 92% of its Adult 18-49 lead-in, Private Practice scored season-best retention for ABC in the hour coming out of a DWTS Results Show. The ABC drama delivered an 11-week high for the Net in the time period in Adults 18-49 and a 22-week high in Adults 25-54 – since 2/7/12 and 11/22/11, respectively.  Jumping over its week-ago premiere in the hour with Total Viewers (+25%), Adults 18-49 (+29%) and Adults 25-54 (+35%), ABC’s Private Practice produced its most-watched telecast in nearly 1-1/2 years – since 11/11/10.  In addition, Private Practice posted its best results since February with key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54) – since 2/16/12.

Wednesday: Despite airing repeat comedies during the first 3 half-hours of the evening, ABC beat out NBC’s all-original schedule on Wednesday by strong double-digit percentage in both Total Viewers (+19%) and Adults 18-49 (+38%).  At 8pm, ABC’s repeat The Middle grew week to week by 7% in viewers, outdrawing its last 4 repeat telecasts.  Building on its lead-in at 8:30pm among young adults (+8%), ABC’s repeat Suburgatory overshadowed NBC’s original Best Friends Forever in the half hour in Total Viewers (+63%) and Adults 18-49 (+75%).  The ABC freshman comedy was up sharply over its last repeat airing in Total Viewers (+22%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%).  At 9pm, ABC’s encore Modern Family shot up from its lead-in (+57%) to finish as Wednesday’s #1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49. ABC’s Modern Family improved over its year-ago replay by 10% in Adults 18-49.  In addition, the ABC comedy topped its most recent encore by 18% in viewers and by 22% in the key young adult sales demographic.  Posting strong retention of its Modern Family lead-in during the 9:30pm half-hour with Adults 18-34 (100%) and Adults 18-49 (91%), ABC’s Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23 ranked #2 to the conclusion of American Idol for the 2nd consecutive week on both young adult measures.  During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s Revenge finished #1 for the 2nd week in a row among Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.  The ABC drama once again beat out NBC’s Law & Order: SVU with Total Viewers (+6%), Adults 18-49 (+24%) and Adults 25-54 (+18%).

Thursday: From 8-9pm, against Fox’s American Idol and CBS’ first-run comedies (The Big Bang Theory/Rules of Engagement), ABC’s Missing once again more than doubled the audience of NBC’s original comedy block (+112% over Community/30 Rock special live episode). The new ABC drama beat the established NBC comedies with Adults 25-54 (+13%) and Women 18-49 (+20%). Missing surged week to week by 29% in Adults 18-34, equaling a 5-week high –since 3/22/12.  Vaulting over its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+136%), ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy won its slot for the 3rd week in a row to stand as Thursday’s #1 drama.  Dominating the 9 o’clock hour, Grey’s Anatomy beat out CBS’ Person of Interest by 38%, Fox’s Idol-driven Touch by a best-ever 74% and NBC’s comedy block by 74% (The Office/Parks and Recreation).  Additionally, Grey’s qualified as Thursday’s highest-rated TV series with Adults 18-34 (2nd straight week) and Women 18-34 (4th straight week).  Although it faced increased competition in the hour, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy equaled an 11-week high in Adults 18-49 – since 2/9/12.  The ABC drama also achieved its highest ratings in nearly 3 months with Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54 – since 2/9/12.  During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC freshman Scandal finished in a virtual-tie with CBS’ time-period established The Mentalist for #1 in Adults 18-49 (tie in audience share).  Versus its freshman drama competition in the slot, ABC’s Scandal soared over NBC’s Awake by 214% in Total Viewers, by 200% in Adults 25-54 and by 150% in Adults 18-49.  In addition, Scandal took full control of The Mentalist with Adults 18-34 (+56%) and won its slot for the 4th week running with key Women (W18-49/W25-54). Despite going up against all first-run competition, ABC’s Scandal held even week to week in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, while growing 8% in Adults 18-34 to match series highs across all 3 Nielsen measures.

Friday: ABC finished as the 2nd-most-watched net on Friday evening to CBS and among Adults 18-49 led NBC by 8% and Fox by 18%. During the 8pm hour, ABC’s Shark Tank ran a strong second in viewers and beat out Fox’s The Finder by 27% in Adults 18-49 and NBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? by 40%. In addition, the ABC unscripted series led the pack by double-digit percentages in Adults 18-34, topping CBS’ Undercover Boss by 11%, The Finder by 25% and Who Do You Think You Are? by 100%. Continuing to grow year to year, ABC’s Shark Tank surged over its year-ago telecast by 17% in Total Viewers and by 17% in Adults 18-49. Building sharply on its lead-in during the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s 20/20 once again dominated NBC’s Dateline in the time period, leading by 22% in Total Viewers, by 43% in Adults 25-54 and by 27% in Adults 18-49. Anchored by Chris Cuomo, 20/20’s team of correspondents got the dirt from the professionals we depend on who confess what they really think of their clients, patients and employees. Plus, a private school mom made the ultimate confession – that she is a porn star. 20/20’s numbers jumped by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+22%), Adults 25-54 (+25%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%).

 

Saturday: With the broadcast premiere of theatrical The Blind Side, ABC stood as the most-watched network on Saturday evening, outdrawing runner-up Fox with NASCAR coverage. The ABC movie stood as Saturday’s #1 TV program in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). The Blind Side marked ABC’s strongest Saturday night movie in close to 1-1/2 years with Adults 18-49 – since 12/25/10.

 

Sunday: ABC won Sunday night by double-digit margins in Adults 18-49, outdelivering Fox by 16%, CBS by 38% and NBC by 57%.  The Net also ranked #1 on the night with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women demos. Surging week to week by 16%, ABC equaled a 7-week high in the key young adult sales demo – since 3/11/12. ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos led the 7 o’clock hour in Adults 18-49, besting Fox’s animated comedies by 15%, CBS’ 60 Minutes by 25% and NBC’s Dateline by 88%.  ABC’s AFHV generated its most-watched telecast in 2 months – since 3/4/12. At 8pm, ABC freshman drama Once Upon a Time soared to the top of its hour in viewers and young adults, taking first place in its time slot for its 8th straight first-run telecast in Adults 18-49.  Dominating with young adults from 8-9pm, Once Upon a Time beat out the season’s penultimate episode of CBS’ Amazing Race XX by 30%, Fox’s animated comedies (The Simpsons/Bob’s Burgers) by 43% and more than tripled the delivery of NBC’s Harry’s Law (+275%).  TV’s #1 new drama for the 2011-12 season, ABC’s Once Upon a Time stood as Sunday’s top-rated program for the 2nd week in a row with Adults 18-49.  Once Upon a Time boosted its hour for ABC year to year by 12% in Total Viewers and by 30% in Adults 18-49 over first-run programming on the year-ago night. Once Upon a Time attracted its biggest overall audience in 7 weeks and equaled an 8-week high in Adults 18-49 – since 3/11/12 and 3/4/12, respectively. The Disney-owned drama rose week to week with Women 18-49 (+5%), Women 18-34 (+7%), Teens 12-17 (+6%) and Kids 2-11 (+14%), matching its highest number with kids in 3 months – since 1/29/12. On its first telecast in 4 weeks, ABC’s Desperate Housewives returned to win the 9 o’clock hour in Adults 18-49, towering over the season finale of CBS’ The Good Wife (+47%) and the opening hour of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice (+39%).  During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s GCB took full control of its freshman drama competition, defeating CBS’ NYC 22 by 50% in Adults 18-49 and by 35% in Adults 25-54.   In addition, the new ABC drama was the #1 series in the hour with Adults 18-34.  After being pre-empted the prior week, GCB shot up over its last telecast by 1.1 million viewers and by 20% in Adults 18-49.  GCB continued to improve its time period over last season, topping original drama programming on the same night last year by 13% in Adults 18-49 (Brothers & Sisters on 5/1/11).

(Source: ABC)