Primetime Ratings Report
For the week of April 25, 2011
(Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)
ABC Stands as the Weeks Most-Watched TV Net, Claiming 5 of the Top 10 Programs, Including the No. 1 Show as "DWTS" Tops Both Editions of "Idol"
ABC Airs 3 of the Week's Top 7 Shows in Adults 18-49, the Most for Any Net
Continuing to Exhibit Year-Over-Year Momentum, ABC Grows its Overall Audience from the Same Week Last Year for the 5th Consecutive Week
Posting Double-Digit Percentage Gains Week to Week, ABC is Monday's No. 1 Net
Winning its Time-Slot for the 6th Week in a Row, "DWTS" is Up Week to Week
Standing as Monday's No. 1 Scripted TV Show, "Better with You" Marks Series Highs
The Top Draw in its Slot, ABC's Repeat "Castle" Beats NBC's Original "L&O: LA"
ABC is Tuesday's Most-Watched Net, Posting its 2nd-Best Results in 5 Months
Tuesday's Top TV Program for the 2nd Week Running, ABC's "DWTS Results"
Attracts its Largest Non-Premiere, Non-Finale Audience in Almost 3 Years
Against the Final Hour of NBC's 2-Hour "The Voice" Debut, ABC's "Body of Proof" Builds its Audience for the 2nd Straight Week to a Best-Since-Premiere Number
ABC's Replays of "The Middle" and "Modern Family" Hit 6-Week Repeat Highs
Surging Week to Week by Double-Digit Percentages, ABC's "Happy Endings" Produces Substantial Year-Over-Year Gains for ABC in the 10pm Half-Hour
The Net Marks its Best Thursday Since March in Viewers and Young Adults,
As ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Generates its 2nd-Largest Audience in 3 Months
ABC Scores its Biggest Friday Crowd in 4 Months, its 2nd-Highest of the Season
ABC Finishes No. 1 on the Opening Sunday of the May Sweep
For the 7th Straight Year in the Key Adult 18-49 Sales Demo
ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" Wins Sunday's 7 O'clock Hour for the
3rd Consecutive Week in Adults 18-49, Posting its Top Number Since January
Up for the 2nd Straight Week, "Home Edition" Hits its Top Results Since February
WEEK No. 32:
During the week of April 25, 2011, ABC (8.7 million) qualified as the most-watched TV network, outdrawing CBS by 4% (8.4 million), Fox by 7% (8.1 million) and NBC by 47% (5.9 million) -- snapping CBS' 5-week winning streak. In addition, ABC (2.2/6) finished No. 2 to Fox in Adults 18-49 for the 3rd week running, beating NBC by 10% (2.0/6) and CBS by 16% (1.9/5).
· ABC's numbers jumped week to week with viewers (+1.0 million - 8.7 million vs. 7.7 million) and young adults (+16% - 2.2/6 vs. 1.9/6), as the Net generated its strongest week since March - since w/o 3/28/11.
· Continuing to show year-over-year momentum, ABC built its overall audience for the 5th week in a row, surging by 1.0 million viewers over the year-ago week (8.7 million vs. 7.7 million on w/o 4/26/10). For the 2nd week in a row, ABC was up the most year to year among the major nets.
Rankings: ABC claimed 5 of the week's Top 10 most-watched TV shows (the most for any net), delivering the top show overall as ABC's "DWTS" topped both editions of Fox's "American Idol" for the first time this season: "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 1, "DWTS Results" - No. 4, "Dancing w/Stars SP-4/26" - No. 6, "Body of Proof" - No. 7 and "Better with You SP-4/25" - No. 10. In addition, ABC's "Body of Proof" stood as the week's most-watched freshman series, outdrawing NBC's highly-promoted debut of "The Voice." The Net delivered 3 of the Top 7 programs in Adults 18-49, the most for any network: "DWTS" - No. 4, "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 6 and "DWTS Results" - No. 7.
Monday
With the second week of a shortened edition of "Dancing with the Stars," a special airing of "Better with You" and a repeat telecast of "Castle," ABC won Monday night by wide margins, outdistancing its closest competition (CBS) by 8.8 million viewers (15.6 million vs. 6.8 million) and by 74% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/9 vs. 1.9/5). ABC registered as Monday's most-watched television network for the 7th week running and led the night in Adults 18-49 for the 6th time in 7 weeks.
· ABC's Monday numbers surged by double-digit percentages week to week in both Total Viewers (+12% - 15.6 million vs. 13.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+14% - 3.3/9 vs. 2.9/8).
"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:31 p.m.)
Building its numbers in its second week of its cut back, 90-minute format, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" topped each of its half-hours in viewers (22.4 million) and young adults (4.7/13) to earn first place in its time slot for the 6th week in a row. Building steadily throughout its telecast, "Dancing's" numbers jumped by 3.6 million viewers (20.2 million to 23.8 million) and by 28% in Adults 18-49 (4.0/12 to 5.1/13) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour. ABC's "DWTS" once again qualified as Monday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers (6th week in a row) and Adults 18-49 (5th time in 6 weeks).
· On Week 2 of its 90-minute format, "DWTS" grew over the prior week by 2.3 million viewers and by 18% in Adults 18-49 (20.1 million and 4.0/11 on 4/18/11). In addition, the broad-appealing ABC unscripted series hit season highs with Teens 12-17 (2.6/9) and Kids 2-11 (2.7/9).
· On average, Season 12 of "DWTS" is up over the same point in Season 11 by 1.2 million viewers (22.4 million vs. 21.2 million) and by 6% in Adults 18-49 (5.0/13 vs. 4.7/12). In fact "DWTS" is producing the franchise's 2nd-most-watched season ever.
"Better with You" (9:31-10:01 p.m.)
In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, a special Monday telecast of ABC's "Better with You" delivered a strong first-place finish among Total Viewers (11.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.6/6). In fact the ABC freshman stood as Monday's No. 1 scripted TV show in viewers and young adults.
· Garnering strong additional sampling on a new night coming out of "Dancing," ABC's "Better with You" marked series high results with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
A repeat telecast of ABC's "Castle" stood as the most-watched TV show overall during the 10 o'clock hour, winning its time slot for the 4th time in its last 5 telecasts. In addition, ABC's encore "Castle" defeated NBC's original "Law & Order: Los Angeles" by a definitive 1.6 million viewers (7.4 million vs. 5.8 million) and 15% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.3/3).
· The ABC drama generated its most-watched repeat this season and its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 number.
· On average ABC's "Castle" is enjoying its strongest season ever, rising over its performance at the same point last year in both Total Viewers (+6% - 11.0 million vs. 10.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.9/7 vs. 2.8/7).
Tuesday
ABC finished as Tuesday's most-watched TV network (14.4 million), outdrawing second-place NBC by 4.1 million viewers (10.3 million), third-place CBS by 4.6 million viewers (9.8 million) and fourth-place Fox by 6.8 million viewers (7.6 million).
· Despite facing stiff all-original competition on NBC ("The Biggest Loser: Couples"/debut of "The Voice") and Fox (90-minute "Glee"/"Raising Hope"), ABC's numbers jumped week to week by 33% in Total Viewers (14.4 million vs. 10.8 million) and by 27% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7 vs. 2.2/6), pulling its 2nd-strongest Tuesday in 5 months - since 11/23/10.
· Up over the year-ago evening in viewers and young adults (7.6 million and 2.0/6 on 4/27/10), ABC built its overall Tuesday audience year to year for the 6th week running.
"Dancing with the Stars: The Road to the Finals" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
In the 8 o'clock hour ABC's special, "Dancing with the Stars: The Road to the Finals," registered as the most-watched TV program (13.1 million), outdrawing originals on Fox ("Glee" = 8.6 million) and NBC ("The Biggest Loser: Couples" = 7.4 million).
· The special produced the Net's top viewer and young adult (2.5/7) numbers in the time slot in 4 weeks - since 3/29/11.
"DWTS Results Show" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
Opposite fierce competition from an extended 90-minute edition of Fox's "Glee" and NBC's highly-promoted debut of "The Voice" in the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "DWTS Results Show" was up week to week and attracted the biggest audience in its time slot (18.3 million) for the 5th straight week. In addition, for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Dancing" results program stood as Tuesday's most-watched TV program. Professional wrestler Chris Jericho was the fifth celebrity to leave the show this season.
· Posting double-digit percentage week-to-week increases in viewers (+12%) and young adults (+20%), "DWTS Results Show" earned its 2nd-highest marks this season. In fact excluding only premieres and finales, "The Results Show" generated its most-watched telecast in nearly 3 years - since 5/6/08.
· ABC's "DWTS Results Show" scored big year-over-year gains, soaring by 48% in Total Viewers (18.3 million vs. 12.4 million) and by 50% in Adults 18-49 (3.6/9 vs. 2.4/7) over the same night last year.
"Body of Proof" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
Up against the final hour of NBC's 2-hour "The Voice" debut, ABC's "Body of Proof" built its overall audience for the 2nd consecutive week (+4% - 11.9 million vs. 11.4 million), marking a best-since-premiere number. The ABC drama finished a strong second against regular competition in the hour with viewers and key Adults: AD18-49 (2.3/6) and AD25-54 (3.2/7).
· The new ABC series continued to produce dramatic year-over-year time-period improvement, boosting the hour by 7.0 million viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49 from the year-ago night with original drama programming ("V" = 4.9 million and 1.9/5).
Wednesday
"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)
Opposite the first hour of Fox's "American Idol" and CBS' "Survivor: Redemption Island" at 8:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "The Middle" beat out NBC's original "Inside the Royal Wedding" by 18% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.1/4).
· "The Middle" was up over its most-recent repeat in the half-hour (on 4/6/11) by 6% in Total Viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.7 million), marking its most-watched repeat airing in the slot in 6 weeks - since 3/9/11.
"Better with You" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)
Building 15% on its lead-in at 8:30 p.m., ABC's freshman "Better with You" bested NBC's "Inside the Royal Wedding" by an even wider 25% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.2/3).
"Modern Family" (9:00-9:31 p.m.)
Building on its lead-in against the third half-hour of "Idol" at 9:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "Modern Family" took second in Adults 18-49 (2.0/5), leading CBS' replay "Criminal Minds" by 11% (1.8/5) and NBC's rebroadcast of "The Voice" by 18% (1.7/4).
· "Modern Family" was up over its most-recent replay by 9% in Total Viewers (5.9 million vs. 5.4 million on 4/6/11), drawing the show's biggest encore audience since the beginning of March - since 3/9/11.
"Cougar Town" (9:31-10:00 p.m.)
Growing from its lead-in among young adults and men, ABC's "Cougar Town" finished as the No. 2 series in its half-hour with key Men: Men 18-49 (1.8/5-tie) and M25-54 (2.4/5-tie).
· Despite coming out of a repeat "Modern Family," as opposed to an original the prior week, and airing against the NBA Playoffs, ABC's "Cougar Town" rose 4% week to week with Men 25-54.
"Happy Endings" (10:00-10:30 p.m.)
At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Happy Endings" surged week to week by double-digit percentages in Total Viewers (+13% - 5.2 million vs. 4.6 million), Adults 18-49 (+17% - 2.1/5 vs. 1.8/5) and Adults 18-34 (+19% - 1.9/5 vs. 1.6/5). Building on its lead-in across all key Men against the NBA Playoffs, the new ABC comedy topped its network rivals in the half-hour in Men 18-34 (1.6/5-tie), Men 18-49 (1.8/5) and Men 25-54 (2.3/5).
· "Happy Endings" was up sharply for ABC in the half-hour over premiere programming on the year-ago night, boosting the slot by 17% in Adults 18-49 and by 27% in Adults 18-34 (debut of "Happy Town" = 1.8/5 and 1.5/4).
"Modern Family" (10:30-11:00 p.m.)
At 10:30 p.m., a second repeat of "Modern Family" improved its half-hour year to year, topping original drama programming ("Happy Town" premiere) on the same night last year by 17% in Adults 18-34 (1.4/4 vs. 1.2/4).
Thursday
On the first night of the May 2011 Sweep, ABC drew its largest audience (8.1 million) and best Adults 18-49 performance (2.4/7) on the night in 4 weeks - since 3/31/11. ABC earned second place to an "Idol"-driven Fox on Thursday across all key Women demos: W18-34/W18-49/W25-54.
"20/20 - The Royal Wedding: A Modern Fairytale" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
"A Special Edition of 20/20 - The Royal Wedding: A Modern Fairytale," hosted by Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo, attracted 7.0 million viewers and a 1.4 rating, 4 share in Adults 18-49, delivering the Net's largest audience in the hour in 5 weeks - since 3/24/11. The ABC newsmagazine more than doubled the performance of NBC's comedies in the hour ("Community"/"The Office") in Total Viewers (7.0 million vs. 3.2 million).
"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" finished second in Thursday's 9 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (10.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.7/9), topping Fox's "Idol"-fueled "Bones" by 32% (2.8/7) and CBS' original "C.S.I." by 54% (2.4/6) in the key young adult sales demo. Additionally, "Grey's" won its time period and qualified as the No. 1 scripted series on the night across each of the key Women demos: W18-34/W18-49/W25-54.
· "Grey's Anatomy" pulled in its 2nd-largest audience in 3 months - since 2/3/11.
"Private Practice" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
ABC's "Private Practice" took second in the 10 o'clock hour versus its broadcast competition, topping NBC's original comedies ("Parks and Recreation"/"30 Rock") in both Total Viewers (6.7 million vs. 4.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 2.0/5). In addition, for its 18th straight first run telecast, the ABC drama registered as the No. 1 scripted TV show in the 10 o'clock hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).
Friday
On the first Friday of the May 2011 Sweep, ABC posted week-to-week increases of 1.7 million (6.1 million vs. 4.4 million) and 17% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/5 vs. 1.2/4). In fact, ABC attracted its largest Total Viewer count on the night in nearly 4 months (since 12/31/10) and 2nd-largest audience overall of the season.
· ABC was up over the year-ago Friday by 2.3 million viewers and by 17% among Adults 18-49 (3.8 million and 1.2/4 on 04/30/10).
"Shark Tank" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Shark Tank" topped NBC's original "Friday Night Lights" by 1.6 million viewers (4.6 million vs. 3.0 million) and by 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 0.6/2).
· "Shark Tank" improved ABC's performance in the time period by 1.3 million viewers and by 33% in Adults 18-49 compared to the same night last year (3.3 million and 0.9/4 with an original "Wife Swap").
"20/20: A Modern Fairytale" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)
"A Special Edition of 20/20: A Modern Fairytale" attracted 6.8 million viewers and a 1.6 rating, 5 sharing in Adults 18-49, turning in the Net's strongest numbers in the time period in nearly 4 months - since 12/31/10 and 1/7/11, respectively. Hosted by Barbara Walters, the special two-hour edition of "20/20" brought viewers a look back at the wedding watched by the world.
· Head to head in the time-slot, "20/20" bettered NBC's "Dateline" by 1.9 million viewers (6.8 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5 vs. 1.2/4).
· From its first hour to its second hour, "20/20" saw its audience grow in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 to 1.6/5), ranking No. 1 in the 10 o'clock hour among the major Nets in the key young adult demo.
Sunday
Leading the pack for the 3rd week running, ABC finished No. 1 on the first Sunday of the May Sweep among Adults 18-49 (2.2/6-tie). In fact it was the Net's 7th consecutive year to rank No. 1 on the opening Sunday of the May Sweep in the key young adult sales demo - beginning in May 2005.
"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-7:45 p.m.)
ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" was the No. 1 program in the 7:00 p.m. hour for the 3rd straight week in Adults 18-49, outpacing runner-up CBS' original "60 Minutes" by 33% (2.0/7 vs. 1.5/5).
· Rising for the 2nd week in a row, "AFV" drew its biggest audience since the end of March and highest Adult 18-49 number since the end of January - since 3/27/11 and 1/30/11, respectively.
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
Surging over its lead-in at 8:00 p.m. and growing its numbers for the 2nd week running, ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" overshadowed NBC's season finale of "America's Next Great Restaurant" by 3.8 million viewers (8.2 vs. 4.4 million) and by 44% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 1.6/4).
· Posting its 2nd week of gains, ABC's "Home Edition" hit its highest numbers since February with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 - since 2/20/11.
"Desperate Housewives" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
ABC's "Desperate Housewives" once again ran as the most-watched TV show in the 9 o'clock hour (9.4 million) and also finished No. 1 across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). "Housewives" beat out the season finale of CBS' "Undercover Boss" (8.4 million and 2.0/5) by 1.0 million viewers and by 40% in Adults 18-49. In fact "Housewives" stood as Sunday's No. 1 scripted series in viewers (9.4 million) and young adults (2.8/7).
Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings), week of 4/25/11, unless stated otherwise.
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