Primetime Ratings Report
For the week of April 23, 2012
(Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)
ABC is No. 2 for the 2nd Straight Week in Viewers and Adults 18-49, Generating its Most-Watched Non-"Oscar" Week Overall in 5 Months
"DWTS" Finishes as TV's Most-Watched Show for the First Time This Season
ABC's "Dancing" Improves Week to Week by 6% in Total Viewers and by 10% in
Adults 18-49, while Spiking 36% in Adults 18-34 to Hit Best-Since-Premiere Numbers
"20/20" Wins on Monday with the Net's Top Newsmag Telecast in Over 5 Months
ABC's "Cougar Town" Generates its Most-Watched Broadcast of the Season
ABC's "DWTS Results Show" Qualifies as Tuesday's Most-Watched TV Program
Surging on its New Night, ABC's "Private Practice" Wins the 10pm Hour
Marking the Series' Most-Watched Telecast in Nearly 1-1/2 Years
Up Year to Year and Topping its Most Recent Encore, ABC's "Modern Family"
Repeat Finishes as Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted TV Show Among Adults 18-49
Showing Strong Lead-in Retention, ABC's "Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23"
Ranks No. 2 to the Conclusion of "Idol" for the 2nd Week in a Row in Adults 18-49
For the 2nd Week Running, ABC's "Revenge" Wins Wednesday's 10 O'clock Hour
ABC's "Grey's" Dominates its Slot for the 3rd Week Running in Adults 18-49, While Standing as Thursday's No. 1 TV Series in Adults 18-34 for the 2nd Week in a Row
ABC's "Scandal" Matches Series-High Ratings Across the Key Adult Demographics
ABC's "20/20" Sees its Numbers Jump by Double-Digit Percentages Week to Week
"The Blind Side" is ABC's Top Saturday Movie Since Dec. 2010 in Adults 18-49
ABC Wins Sunday Evening by Double Digits with a 7-Week High in Adults 18-49
ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" Draws its Biggest Audience in 2 Months
TV's No. 1 Freshman Drama for the 2011-12 Season, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" Dominates the 8pm Hour to Finish as Sunday's Top-Rated TV Show in Adults 18-49
ABC's "GCB" Dominates its Freshman Drama Competition Sunday at 10pm, Spiking 20% Over its Last Telecast and Growing its Slot by 13% Year to Year in Adults 18-49
WEEK No. 32:
During the week of April 23, 2012, ABC ranked No. 2 for the 2nd straight week in both Total Viewers (8.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/6), 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 Network held double-digit advantages over third-place CBS (+18% - 1.7/5) and fourth-place NBC (+25% - 1.6/5). In fact, ABC defeated NBC for the 7th week running with young adults. The Net ranked No. 1 among key Women (W18-49/W25-54).
· 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.
Rankings: ABC delivered 5 of the Top 20 TV shows in Adults 18-49, placing 3 in the Top 10 and claiming the No. 1 drama with "Grey's Anatomy" and the No. 1 freshman series with "Once Upon a Time:" "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 6, "DWTS" - No. 8, "Once Upon a Time" - No. 9, "Desperate Housewives" - No. 14 and "DWTS Results Show" - No. 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 No. 1 TV show overall for the first time this season: "DWTS" - No. 1, "DWTS Results Show" - No. 4 and "20/20 SP Edition" - No. 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.
Monday
Featuring "DWTS" and "A Special Edition of 20/20" with a behind-the-scenes look at "Dancing," ABC (15.4 million) registered as Monday's most-watched television network for the 6th week in a row, eclipsing original programming on NBC (8.9 million - "The Voice"/"Smash") by 6.5 million viewers and Fox (6.9 million - "Bones"/"House") by 8.5 million viewers. Ranking No. 2 on the night in Adults 18-49, ABC defeated Fox's original drama lineup by 27% (2.8/7 vs. 2.2/6).
· The Net's Monday was up for the 2nd week in a row among both viewers (+3%) and young adults (+8%).
"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:01 p.m.)
Monday's most-watched TV program, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" jumped to the top of 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 (17.6 million vs. 10.3 million). In addition, the wide-appealing dance competition ranked No. 1 in the slot with Adults 25-54 (4.4/10), while earning second with young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) and making ABC the No. 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% - 17.6 million vs. 16.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+10% - 3.2/8 vs. 2.9/8), while spiking 36% in Adults 18-34 (1.9/6 vs. 1.4/4) to achieve a best-since-premiere number - since 3/19/12.
"20/20: Dance Floor Confidential: Behind the Scenes of DWTS" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
"A Special Edition of 20/20" finished No. 1 during the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (10.7 million), Adults 18-49 (2.1/6) and Adults 25-54 (3.1/7), 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 (10.7 million vs. 6.0 million), by 5% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.9/5) and by 29% in Adults 25-54 (3.1/7 vs. 2.4/6).
· 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 surging "Private Practice" on its new night, ABC (9.4 million) registered as Tuesday's 2nd-most-watched TV network to CBS, increasing its lead week to week over NBC to 2.6 million viewers (6.8 million) and Fox to 3.9 million viewers (5.5 million). In addition, ABC ranked No. 1 on the night in Adults 25-54 (2.9/7 - tie).
· 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%).
"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:31 p.m.)
At 8:00 p.m., ABC's replay "Last Man Standing" stood as Tuesday's most-watched sitcom, pulling in 10% more viewers than Fox's original "Glee"-led "New Girl" (5.7 million vs. 5.2 million) in the 9:00 p.m. half-hour.
· Bettering its last encore airing by 8%, "Last Man Standing" generated the series' 2nd-most-watched repeat in the half-hour.
"Cougar Town" (8:31-9:00 p.m.)
In the 8:30 p.m. 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% - 4.9 million vs. 4.5 million) and young adults (+7% - 1.5/4 vs. 1.4/4). In fact, the ABC comedy turned in its most-watched broadcast this season.
"DWTS Results Show" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
Leaping over its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. to emerge as Tuesday's most-watched TV program, ABC's "DWTS Results Show" (14.5 million) qualified as the top draw in its slot for the 5th week in a row, defeating its unscripted competition on NBC ("Voice Results" = 8.9 million) 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 No. 2 in the hour in both Adults 18-49 (2.4/6) and Adults 25-54 (3.7/9) 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%).
"Private Practice" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Private Practice" posted a strong first-place finish with Total Viewers (8.1 million), Adults 18-49 (2.2/6) and Adults 25-54 (3.1/8). 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."
· 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, the ABC drama posted its best results since February with key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54) - since 2/16/12.
· "Private Practice" delivered an 11-week high for ABC in the hour in Adults 18-49 and a 22-week high in Adults 25-54 - since 2/7/12 and 11/22/11, respectively.
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% - 5.7 million vs. 4.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (+38% - 1.8/5 vs. 1.3/4).
"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)
At 8:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "The Middle" grew week to week by 7% in viewers (4.9 million vs. 4.6 million), outdrawing its last 4 repeat telecasts.
"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)
Building on its lead-in at 8:30 p.m. among young adults (+8%), ABC's repeat "Suburgatory" overshadowed NBC's original "Best Friends Forever" in the half hour in Total Viewers (+63% - 4.4 million vs. 2.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+75% - 1.4/4 vs. 0.8/2).
· The ABC freshman comedy was up sharply over its last repeat airing (3.6 million and 1.2/4 on 4/4/12) in Total Viewers (+22%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%).
"Modern Family" (9:00-9:31 p.m.)
At 9:00 p.m., ABC's encore "Modern Family" shot up from its lead-in (+57%) to finish as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6).
· 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 (on 4/4/12) by 18% in viewers (5.8 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 22% in young adults (2.2/6 vs. 1.8/5).
"Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" (9:31-10:00 p.m.)
Posting strong retention of its "Modern Family" lead-in during the 9:30 p.m. half-hour with Adults 18-34 (100% - 1.6/5 vs. 1.6/5) and Adults 18-49 (91% - 2.0/5 vs. 2.2/6), ABC's "Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" ranked No. 2 to the conclusion of "American Idol" for the 2nd consecutive week in the key young adult sales demo.
"Revenge" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Revenge" finished No. 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% - 7.0 million vs. 6.6 million), Adults 18-49 (+24% - 2.1/6 vs. 1.7/5) and Adults 25-54 (+18% - 2.6/7 vs. 2.2/5).
Thursday
"Missing" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
From 8:00-9:00 p.m., against Fox's "American Idol" and CBS' first-run comedies ("The Big Bang Theory"/"Rules of Engagement"), ABC's "Missing" (7.0 million) once again more than doubled the audience of NBC's original comedy block (+112% over "Community"/"30 Rock" Live Episode = 3.3 million). The new ABC drama beat the established NBC comedies with Adults 25-54 (+13%) and with Women 18-49 (+20%).
· "Missing" surged week to week by 29% in Adults 18-34, equaling a 5-week high - since 3/22/12.
"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
Vaulting over its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+136%), ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" won its slot for the 3rd week in a row to stand as Thursday's No. 1 drama. Dominating the 9 o'clock hour, "Grey's Anatomy" (3.3/8) beat out CBS' "Person of Interest" by 38% (2.4/6), Fox's "Idol"-driven "Touch" by a best-ever 74% (1.9/5) and NBC's comedy block by 74% ("The Office"/"Parks and Recreation" = 1.9/5). Additionally, "Grey's" qualified as Thursday's top-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.
"Scandal" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC freshman "Scandal" finished in a virtual tie with CBS' time-period established "The Mentalist" for No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 2.2/6 - tied in audience share). Versus its freshman drama competition in the slot, ABC's "Scandal" soared over NBC's "Awake" by 214% in Total Viewers (6.9 million vs. 2.2 million), by 200% in Adults 25-54 (2.7/7 vs. 0.9/2) and by 150% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 0.8/2). In addition, "Scandal" took full control of "The Mentalist" with Adults 18-34 (+56% - 1.4/5 vs. 0.9/3) and won its slot for the 4th week running with key Women (W18-49/W25-54).
· Despite going up against an original "The Mentalist," 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 (4.8 million) finished as the 2nd-most-watched net on Friday evening to CBS, and among Adults 18-49 (1.3/4) led NBC by 8% (1.2/4) and Fox by 18% (1.1/4).
"Shark Tank" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
During the 8:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Shark Tank" (5.4 million and 1.4/5) ran a strong second in viewers and beat out Fox's "The Finder" by 27% (1.1/4) in Adults 18-49 and NBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?" by 40% (1.0/4). 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 (4.6 million and 1.2/4 on 4/29/11) by 17% in Total Viewers and by 17% in Adults 18-49.
"20/20" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
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 (5.0 million vs. 4.1 million), by 43% in Adults 25-54 (2.0/5 vs. 1.4/4) and by 27% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.1/3). 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
"ABC Saturday Movie of the Week: The Blind Side" (8:00-11:00 p.m.)
With the broadcast premiere of theatrical "The Blind Side," ABC stood as the most-watched network on Saturday evening (6.1 million), outdrawing runner-up Fox with NASCAR coverage (5.9 million).
· The ABC movie stood as Saturday's No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (6.1 million), Adults 25-54 (2.1/6) and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).
· "The Blind Side" marked ABC's strongest Saturday night movie since December 2010 with Adults 18-49 (1.5/5) - since 12/25/10.
Sunday
ABC (2.2/6) won Sunday night by double-digit margins in Adults 18-49, outdelivering Fox by 16% (1.9/6), CBS by 38% (1.6/5) and NBC by 57% (1.4/4). The Net also ranked No. 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.
"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m.)
ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" (1.5/5) led the 7 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, besting Fox's animated comedies by 15% (1.3/4), CBS' "60 Minutes" by 25% (1.2/4) and NBC's "Dateline" by 88% (0.8/3).
· ABC's "AFHV" (6.8 million) generated its most-watched telecast in 2 months - since 3/4/12.
"Once Upon a Time" (8:00-9:01 p.m.)
At 8:00 p.m., ABC freshman drama "Once Upon a Time" soared to the top of its hour in viewers (9.2 million) and young adults (3.0/8), taking first place in its time slot for its 8th straight first-run telecast in Adults 18-49. Dominating with young adults from 8:00-9:00 p.m., "Once Upon a Time" (3.0/8) beat out the season's penultimate episode of CBS' "Amazing Race XX" by 30% (2.3/7), Fox's animated comedies ("The Simpsons"/"Bob's Burgers") by 43% (2.1/6), and more than tripled the delivery of NBC's "Harry's Law" (+275% - 0.8/2). TV's No. 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 ("Home Edition" on 5/1/11 = 8.2 million and 2.3/6).
· "Once Upon a Time" attracted its biggest overall audience in 7 weeks and matched 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.
"Desperate Housewives" (9:01-10:01 p.m.)
On its first telecast in 4 weeks, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" (2.5/6) returned to win the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, towering over the season finale of CBS' "The Good Wife" (+47% - 1.7/4) and the opening hour of NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" (+39% - 1.8/4).
"GCB" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
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 (1.8/5 vs. 1.2/3) and by 35% in Adults 25-54 (2.3/5 vs. 1.7/4). In addition, the new ABC drama was the No. 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 (5.5 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 20% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.5/4).
· "GCB" continued to improve its time period over last season, topping original drama programming ("Brothers & Sisters" on 5/1/11 = 1.6/4) on the same night last year by 13% in Adults 18-49.
Source: The Nielsen Company, National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings, week of 04/23/12.
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