During the week of 4/30/12, ABC finished as the 2nd-most-watched network to CBS for the 3rd week running and beat out Fox by 13%. ABC continued to dominate NBC among Adults 18-49 (+25%), defeating NBC for the 8th week in a row. ABC claimed 5 of the Top 20 TV shows in Adults 18-49, delivering the #1 drama with Grey’s Anatomy and the #1 freshman drama with Once Upon a Time: Modern Family – #3, Grey’s Anatomy – #8, Once Upon a Time – #13, DWTS – #16 and Desperate Housewives – No. 17. Based on estimated DVR playback, ABC’s Modern Family is projected to finish as the week’s No. 1 TV show in the final Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 ratings. Additionally, ABC’s Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23 was once again the week’s highest-rated new midseason series with young adults. The Network aired 2 of the Top 7 most-watched programs overall, with Dancing with the Stars (#3) and DWTS Results Show (#7). ABC equaled its highest rated non-Oscar week in 3 months with Adults 18-49 – since w/o 2/6/12.
ABC vs. NBC 2011-12 Season to Date in Adults 18-49 (33 Complete Weeks): ABC claims TV’s #1 comedy/scripted series (Modern Family), the #1 drama (Grey’s Anatomy) and the #1 new drama (Once Upon a Time). Based on the non-sports season averages, ABC is outdelivering an NFL-inflated NBC by 26% with Adults 18-49. And excluding just the Super Bowl, NBC’s season average drops by 2-tenths of a rating point, putting NBC -4% behind ABC for the season.
Monday: With Dancing and Castle opposite all-original competition, ABC stood as the most-watched net on Monday for the 7th week running, topping CBS (8–10pm comedies/Hawaii Five-0) by 4.4 million, NBC (The Voice/Smash) by 6.4 million viewers and Fox (Bones/House) by 7.7 million viewers. In addition among Adults 18-49, ABC defeated Fox’s drama lineup on the night by 30%. Monday’s most-watched television show, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars soared to the top its 2-hour slot for the 7th week in a row, besting runner-up CBS comedies by 6.5 million viewers and NBC’s The Voice in head-to-head competition by 6.7 million viewers. In addition, the wide-appealing dance competition beat out Fox’s dramas in the slot by 40% in Adults 18-49. DWTS also ranked #1 in its time period with Women 25-54, took second with Women 18-49 and made ABC #2 among the major nets with Kids 2-11. After being pre-empted the prior week, ABC’s Castle returned as the most-watched TV show in the 10 o’clock hour for its 5th straight telecast, outdrawing CBS’ Hawaii Five-0 cross-over episode with NCIS: LA. Also in the hour, Castle beat NBC’s Smash by its best-ever margins with Total Viewers (+109%), Adults 18-49 (+28%) and Adults 25-54 (+39%). Despite facing all-original competition, ABC’s Castle grew over its most recent telecast in Adults 18-49 (+10%) and Adults 25-54 (+3%), matching a 6-month high in the key young adult sales demo – since 11/7/11.
Tuesday: With Last Man Standing, Cougar Town, DWTS Results Show and Private Practice, ABC qualified as the 2nd-most-watched TV network on Tuesday to CBS, leading NBC (with The Voice Results and The Biggest Loser 13 finale) by 2.2 million viewers and Fox by 4.2 million viewers. At 8pm, against CBS’ top-rated NCIS, ABC’s Last Man Standing drew a 10% larger audience than Fox’s Glee and edged out NBC’s season closer of The Biggest Loser 13. In fact, self-starter Last Man Standing once again registered as Tuesday’s most-watched comedy, attracting 2.1 million more viewers than Fox’s Glee-led New Girl in the 9pm half-hour. ABC’s Last Man Standing retained all of its audience from its last original two weeks ago and shot up 100% in Teens 12-17, equaling its best number in 2 months with teens – since 2/28/12. In the 8:30pm half-hour, Cougar Town produced best-of-season lead-in retention for ABC coming out of an original Last Man Standing with Total Viewers (74%) and the 2nd highest in Adults 18-49 (87%). Soaring over its lead-in at 9pm, ABC’s DWTS Results Show stood as the #2 most-watched program in its time period to CBS’ NCIS: LA, topping its unscripted competition on NBC (Voice Results) by 5.0 million viewers. Actor Jaleel White was the sixth celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the dance competition this season. Scoring 4-week highs, ABC’s DWTS Results Show was up week to week in Adults 18-34 (+8%) and Women 18-34 (+6%). During the 10 o’clock hour against all-original competition, ABC’s Private Practice ranked #1 for the 2nd week in a row, leading runner-up CBS’ Unforgettable by double digits in Adults 18-49 (+17%) and Adults 25-54 (+12%). Holding an impressive 88% of its Adult 18-49 lead-in, Private Practice continued to generate ABC’s strongest retention this season out of DWTS Results Show. Despite facing increased competition in the time period, Private Practice retained nearly all of its week-ago numbers in Viewers (91%), Adults 18-34 (100%) and Adults 18-49 (95%). Private Practice improved its time period year to year in Adults 18-49, topping original drama programming on the same night last year by 5%.
Wednesday: ABC earned second place on Wednesday to Fox with a 2-hour Idol among Adults 18-34 and also finished as the #2 broadcaster with Teens 12-17. Continuing to produce double-digit year-to-year returns on the evening, ABC surged over the year-ago Wednesday in Viewers (+20%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%). In fact, ABC was the only broadcaster to grow its Adult 18-49 number year to year. The Net equaled its strongest Wednesday since February with young adults – since 2/29/12. At 8pm, against CBS’ Survivor: One World and the start of Fox’s 2-hour Idol, ABC’s The Middle outdelivered NBC’s Off their Rockers by 1.7 million viewers and by 54% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC comedy beat out Survivor for its 6th straight first-run telecast in both Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. Retaining 100% of its young adult lead-in at 8:30pm, ABC’s Suburgatory paced well ahead of its NBC freshman competition in its slot, defeating a second episode of NBC’s Off their Rockers by 18% in Total Viewers and by 43% in Adults 18-49. For the 7th consecutive original airing, the ABC freshman comedy took full control of the second half of Survivor: One World with Adults 18-34 (+25%) and Women 18-34 (+54%). The ABC freshman comedy boosted its slot year to year by 25% in Adults 18-49 over original comedy programming on the same night last year. TV’s #1 scripted series for the 2nd straight season in Adults 18-49, ABC’s Modern Family doubled its lead-in at 9pm to qualify as Wednesday’s dominant scripted program, leading runner-up CBS’ Criminal Minds by 37%. In addition, Modern Family beat American Idol head to head in the half hour to stand as Wednesday’s #1 TV show overall for its 2nd straight original with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. Compared to its last original two weeks ago, Modern Family retained 100% of its Adult 18-49 number, while growing to 7-week highs in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49) – since 3/14/12. Modern Family grew over its year-ago broadcast in both viewers (+2%) and young adults (+5%). During the 9:30pm half-hour against the conclusion of Idol, ABC’s Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23 ranked as the #1 scripted show in its slot for the 3rd time in 4 telecasts in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Men 18-34. Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23 jumped week to week by double digits in Total Viewers (+16%) and Adults 18-49 (+15%). In addition, the new show once again improved its half-hour year to year among viewers (+4%) and young adults (+5%), beating original comedy programming on the year-ago night. During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s Revenge ran in a near tie for first place Adults 18-49 (tying CBS’ CSI in audience share), while ranking #1 in the hour across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). The ABC freshman drama beat out NBC’s veteran Law & Order: SVU in the hour with Total Viewers (+8%), Adults 18-49 (+11%) and Adults 25-54 (+17%). Revenge delivered dramatic improvement in the slot for ABC over original programming on the same night last year in Viewers (+97%), Adults 25-54 (+69%) and Adults 18-49 (+40%).
Thursday: During the 8 o’clock hour, opposite Fox’s American Idol and CBS’ original comedies (The Big Bang Theory/Rules of Engagement), ABC’s Missing drew 103% more viewers than NBC’s original comedy block (Community/30 Rock). The new ABC drama also beat out the established NBC comedies with Adults 25-54 (+7%) and Women 18-49 (+7%). Missing improved its hour year to year by 31% in Total Viewers over original programming on the same night last year. Nearly tripling its lead-in at 9pm in Adults 18-49 (+175%), ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy finished as the highest-rated series in its hour for the 4th week in a row to once again register as Thursday’s #1 drama. Winning the 9 o’clock hour by wide margins, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy) defeated CBS’ Person of Interest by 32%, Fox’s Idol-inflated Touch by 65% and NBC’s comedy block by 65% (The Office/Parks and Recreation). Additionally, Grey’s qualified as Thursday’s top-rated TV series with Women 18-49 and Women 18-34 (5th straight week). Grey’s Anatomy retained 100% of its week-ago Adult 18-49 rating, while building with Women 18-34 (+5%) and Women 18-49 (+4%) to hit its best numbers in nearly 3 months – since 2/9/12. During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC freshman Scandal took second to CBS’ veteran The Mentalist in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54. Also in the hour, ABC’s Scandal crushed its freshman drama competition, outdelivering NBC’s Awake by best-yet margins in Total Viewers (+219%), Adults 25-54 (+225%) and Adults 18-49 (+171%). In addition, Scandal paced well ahead of The Mentalist with Adults 18-34 (+56%) and ranked #1 in its slot for the 5th straight week with key Women (W18-49/W25-54). Scandal equaled series highs among Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.
Friday: ABC won Friday night among Adults 18-49, beating CBS by 14%, NBC by 33% and Fox by 78%. Growing for the 2nd straight week, ABC delivered solid double-digit gains in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 to hit a 5-week high on the night – since 3/30/12. The Net paced ahead of the year-ago night by 8% in viewers and 14% in young adults. Friday’s #1 TV show, ABC’s Shark Tank dominated the 8 o’clock hour in Adults 18-49, defeating CBS’ Undercover Boss for the first time ever and by a definitive 20%. Soaring over the prior week by 29% in Adults 18-49, ABC’s Shark Tank equaled its 2nd-highest rating ever. The ABC unscripted series also grew 13% week to week in Total Viewers to attract its 2nd-biggest audience this season. Shark Tank, which is delivering its best-ever season, soared over its year-ago telecast in the hour by 36% in viewers and by 50% in young adults. During the 9 o’clock hour, ABC’s Primetime: What Would You Do? ranked No. 1 with Adults 18-34 against its network rivals, leading original dramas in the hour on CBS by 43% (CSI: NY), NBC by 25% (Grimm) and Fox by 25% (Fringe). The ABC newsmagazine’s numbers shot up by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+18%) and Adults 18-49 (+27%). Building on its lead-in during the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s 20/20 topped its network rivals in Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS’ Blue Bloods by 7%. In addition, 20/20 continued to beat out NBC’s Dateline in the time period, winning the newsmagazine race in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49. Anchored by Barbara Walters with reports from Walters, Sharon Alfonsi, John Berman and Cameron Mathison, “Extreme Parenting” on 20/20 delved into wacky, unconventional and sometimes controversial parenting methods. 20/20 was up for the 2nd week in a row, gaining 4% with viewers and 7% with young adults over the prior week.
Sunday: Ranking #1 for the 3rd straight Sunday, ABC led the night by impressive margins in Adults 18-49, beating out CBS (with the 2-hour Amazing Race finale) by 14%, Fox by 26% and NBC by 85%. The Net continued to earn the #1 position on the evening with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women demos. Increasing over the prior Sunday in viewers (+3%) and gaining for the 3rd straight week in young adults (+9%), ABC turned in its strongest results on the night in 2 months – since 3/11/12 and 3/4/12, respectively. In addition, the Net was up over the same Sunday last year in Adults 18-49 (+9%). ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos won the 7 o’clock hour for the 2nd week in a row in Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS’ 60 Minutes by 25%, Fox’s animated comedies by 54% and NBC’s Dateline by 186%. Launching over the prior week by 33% in Adults 18-49, ABC’s AFHV hit its best number in 2 months to equal its 2nd-highest-rated telecast this season – since 3/4/12. In addition, the veteran ABC video-clip show shot up 18% over its year-ago telecast with young adults. At 8pm, ABC freshman drama Once Upon a Time dominated its hour in Adults 18-49, holding the #1 position in its slot for its 9th consecutive original broadcast. From 8-9pm, Once Upon a Time outran the opening hour of the season finale for CBS’ Amazing Race XX by 11%, Fox’s animated comedies (The Simpsons/Bob’s Burgers) by 50% 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 highest-rated television show for the 3rd week running with Adults 18-49. Once Upon a Time generated big time-slot gains for ABC year to year, up by 13% in Total Viewers and by 43% in Adults 18-49 over first-run programming on the year-ago night. Once Upon a Time was up over the prior week in Adults 18-34 (+4%), achieving a 9-week high – since 3/4/12. In addition, the Disney-owned drama grew its Teen 12-17 number (+11%) for its 3rd straight original and hit its highest Men 18-34 rating since January – since 1/29/12. At 9pm, the penultimate episode of ABC’s Desperate Housewives ranked #1 in its hour for the 2nd week in a row with Adults 18-49, tying the second hour of the Amazing Race finale. Building week to week in viewers (+15%) and young adults (+8%), Desperate Housewives matched a 17-week high in Adults 18-49 (since 1/8/12). During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s season finale of GCB once again dominated its freshman drama competition, beating CBS’ NYC 22 by 50% in Adults 18-49 and by 28% in Adults 25-54. In addition, the new ABC drama ranked #1 in the hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49). Growing its overall audience for the 2nd straight telecast, GCB posted its most-watched telecast since the beginning of April and its highest ratings since March in key Adults (AD18-34/AD25-54) – since 4/1/12 and 3/25/12, respectively. On average during its freshman season, GCB improved its time period by wide margins year to year in Total Viewers (+21%) and Adults 18-49 (+44%).
(source: ABC)
