Primetime Ratings Report for the Week of March 31, 2014 (Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC is No. 2 for the 2nd Straight Week, Taking 1st or 2nd on 4 of the Last 6 Weeks

"Dancing" is Monday's Most-Watched TV Show for the 3rd Straight Week

ABC's "Castle" Delivers its Most-Watched Encore Telecast in Nearly 4 Years

"S.H.I.E.L.D." Returns to Original with a First Place Finish in Men 18-34 to Rank As the Top-Rated Scripted Series in its Hour for its 16th-Straight First-Run Airing

ABC's "The Goldbergs" Dominates the Return of Fox's "The Mindy Project" at 9pm

ABC's "Trophy Wife" Equals its Highest Adult 18-49 Rating in Nearly 3 Months

Wednesday at 8pm, "The Middle" Beats "Idol" for the First Time in Adults 18-49

"Suburgatory" Surges 13% to its 2nd-Best Adult 18-49 Rating of the Season

"Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for its 5th Consecutive Original

"Mixology" is Up for the 2nd Week in Women 18-49 to Match a Series High

"Nashville" Jumps 15% Week to Week to Match a 4-Month High in Adults 18-49

"Grey's" Dominates its Hour in Adults 18-49 and is Up for the 3rd Straight Week

Thursday at 10pm, "Scandal" Beats its Combined Drama Competition in Adults 18-49

ABC is No. 1 on Friday in Adults 18-49 for the 5th Time in 6 Weeks, Continuing to Deliver the Top 2 TV Shows with "Shark Tank" and "20/20"

"Nightline Prime" Builds to Season Highs and Improves its Time Slot Year to Year

"Once Upon a Time" is Up 11% in Adults 18-49 to Tie its Top Rating Since October

ABC's "Resurrection" Dominates its Regular Time-Slot Competition in Adults 18-49

"Revenge" is the No. 1 Drama in its Hour for the 4th time in 5 Weeks in Adults 18-49

Week No. 28

During the week of March 31, 2014, ABC earned the No. 2 position for the 2nd week in a row with Total Viewers (6.4 million) and across all key Adult demos: AD18-34 (1.1/4), AD18-49 (1.6/5) and AD25-54 (2.1/6). Among Adults 18-49, ABC (1.6/5) beat NBC by 7% (1.5/4) and Fox by 33% (1.2/4), finishing No. 1 or No. 2 on 4 of the last 6 weeks.

Rankings: The Network claimed 5 of the Top 20 TV programs in Adults 18-49, delivering the No. 1 broadcast drama for the 5th week running: "Modern Family" - No. 6, "Scandal" - No. 9 (No. 1 broadcast drama), "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 12, "Once Upon a Time" - No. 16 and "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 20. For the 3rd week running, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was TV's most-watched unscripted show in Total Viewers and outdelivered both editions of "American Idol" in Adults 18-49. ABC's "20/20" ranked as the No. 1 newsmagazine in key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54)

· ABC was the only major net up week to week in Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.6/5 vs. 1.5/5).

Monday

With "DWTS" and a repeat "Castle," ABC ranked a strong No. 2 on Monday in Total Viewers, pacing within 100,000 viewers of NBC with originals of "The Voice" and "Blacklist" (11.9 million vs. 12.0 million) and topping CBS with the 1-hour series finale of "How I Met Your Mother" on the night by 3.2 million viewers (8.7 million). In addition, ABC beat Fox's original drama lineup by 27% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.5/4).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 14.1 million and 2.3/6 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:00 p.m. up against the high-rated series finale of "How I Met Your Mother" (8:00-9:00 p.m.), ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" stood as Monday's most-watched TV show for the 3rd week running, topping NBC's "The Voice" in head-to-head competition by 1.8 million viewers (14.1 million vs. 12.3 million). Among young adults in the time period, ABC's "DWTS" beat Fox's original dramas ("Bones"/"The Following") by 53% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 1.5/4) and by 45% in Adults 18-34 (1.6/5 vs. 1.1/3).

· Despite the big competition, "DWTS" increased its Adult 18-49 rating on the same night last year by 5% (2.2/6 on 4/1/13) and jumped 33% in Adults 18-34 (1.6/5 vs. 1.2/4). In addition, the show held even with its week-ago Adult 18-49 rating.

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 7.4 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's repeat "Castle" took second place with its most-watched encore in nearly 4 years - since 4/26/10.

Tuesday

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (8:00-9:01 p.m. - 5.7 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):

On its first original telecast in 3 weeks (since 3/11/14), ABC's "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." returned to more than double the delivery of Fox's "Glee" in the 8:00 p.m. hour in Total Viewers (+119% - 5.7 million vs. 2.6 million ) and Adults 18-49 (+122% - 2.0/6 vs. 0.9/3). In addition, "S.H.I.E.L.D." (1.6/7) tied NBC's "The Voice" for first place in the hour with Men 18-34 (1.6/7) and beat CBS' original "NCIS" by 60% (1.0/5) to rank as the No. 1 scripted series in its slot for its 16th-straight original broadcast among hard-to-reach young men. "S.H.I.E.L.D." shot up over its last original by 38% in Teens 12-17, while retaining more than 90% of its 3-week ago audience in viewers, young adults and all key men: Total Viewers (95%), Adults 18-49 (95%), Men 18-34 (94%), Men 18-49 (100%) and Men 25-54 (96%).

· "S.H.I.E.L.D." grew its hour year to year for ABC, gaining 42% in Adults 18-49 over the year-ago night with original programming. Season to date in the key young adult sales demo, the freshman series has improved its time slot by 52%.

· "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." continues to see big increases to its overnight numbers via TV Playback (among TV's Top 5 biggest broadcast gainers this season), with originals adding an average of 1.6 Adult 18-49 rating points (+62%) from Live + Same Day to Live + 7 Day. In fact, the new ABC drama is Tuesday's No. 1 scripted show this season with Adults 18-49 based on original telecasts, beating CBS' "NCIS" (4.2 rating vs. 4.1 rating).

"The Goldbergs" (9:01-9:31 p.m. - 4.7 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

During the 9:00 p.m. half-hour, ABC freshman "The Goldbergs" dominated Fox's return of "The Mindy Project" by 147% in Total Viewers (4.7 million vs. 1.9 million) and by 50% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.0/3). The ABC comedy was up for its 2nd straight original with Men 18-34 (+10%).

"Trophy Wife" (9:31-10:00 p.m. - 3.0 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Trophy Wife" retained 100% of its last original two weeks ago in Adults 18-49 to equal its best number in nearly 3 months - since 1/14/14. The ABC freshman comedy outdrew Fox's sophomore "The Mindy Project" in the half-hour by 1.1 million viewers (3.0 million vs. 1.9 million) and tied among Adults 18-49 (1.0/3).

Wednesday

ABC's "Modern Family" finished as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show for its 5th consecutive original broadcast in Adults 18-49 (3.3/9), topping runner-up CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 27% (2.6/7) and outdelivering Fox's "American Idol" by 57% (2.1/6). "Modern Family" also drew a larger overall audience than "Idol" on the night for the 2nd straight week (9.0 million vs. 8.9 million).

· ABC's 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedy block beat "Idol" in its 2-hour time period by 5% among Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 2.1/6).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.2 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" beat "American Idol" for the first time in Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.0/7 vs. 1.9/6). "The Middle" was up 5% week to week in Adults 18-49, matching a 2-month high - since 2/5/14. In addition, the ABC family comedy ranked No. 1 in its half-hour with Adults 18-34, key Women (W18-34/W18-49), as well as ranking as the top broadcast with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 5.4 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., "Suburgatory" was up by 13% week to week in Adults 18-49, equaling its 2nd-best number this season.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:31 p.m. - 9.0 million and 3.3/9 in AD18-49):

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+106%), ABC's "Modern Family" (3.2/9) won its half-hour by 32% over CBS' "Criminal Minds" (2.5/7) and beat Fox's "Idol" by 57% (2.1/6).

"Mixology" (9:31-10:00 p.m. - 4.3 million and 1.6/4 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Mixology" held steady week to week in Adults 18-49 and was up for the 2nd straight week in Women 18-49 (+11%) to tie a series high.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" jumped 15% in Adults 18-49 week to week, equaling a 4-month high - since 12/4/13. In addition, the ABC drama was up for its 2nd straight original in Adults 25-54 (+6%) to also earn its best number since early December - since 12/4/13.

· On average, "Nashville" is ABC's top percentage gainer this season via TV Playback and Top 2 among all broadcast series, with originals shooting up 80% from a 1.5 L+SD rating to a 2.7 Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 rating.

Thursday

ABC ran a strong No. 2 on Thursday to CBS, beating third-place Fox by 23% in Total Viewers (6.9 million vs. 5.6 million) and by 38% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 1.6/5). In addition, the Net was No. 1 on Thursday in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· ABC's "Scandal" (2.9/9) and "Grey's" (2.7/8) stood as the Top 2 dramas on Thursday in Adults 18-49 and were also the Top 2 most social TV shows of the night with 339,727 and 40,768 tweets, respectively.

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 3.4 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's finale of "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" was up 3% week to week in Total Viewers. The ABC freshman drama topped NBC's veteran comedies in the hour by 31% in viewers (3.4 million vs. 2.6 million for "Community"/"Parks and Recreation").

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.3 million and 2.7/8 in AD18-49):

Tripling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+200%), ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (2.7/8) continued to dominate its hour, leading runner-up CBS' comedies by 29% ("Two and a Half Men"/"Crazy Ones" = 2.1/6) and Fox with "American Idol" and "Surviving Jack" by 80% (1.5/4). Fox's "American Idol" delivered another all-time low, falling to a 1.7 Adult 18-49 rating. "Grey's" was up for the 3rd straight week in Adults 18-49 (+4%) to deliver its highest rating since its mid-season return on 2/27/14.

· In its 10th season, "Grey's Anatomy" is up over the same point last year in both Total Viewers (+5%) and Adults 18-49 (+2%), tracking as its most-watched season in 4 years - since the 2009/10 season.

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.1 million and 2.9/9 in AD18-49):

Growing from its lead-in among Adults 18-49 at 10:00 p.m. (+7%), ABC's "Scandal" (2.9/9) beat its combined drama competition in the hour by 7%: CBS' "Elementary" (1.5/5) and NBC's "Parenthood" (1.2/4). "Scandal" was up week to week in Total Viewers to draw its biggest audience since its mid-season return on 2/27/14.

· On average, "Scandal" is up 36% in Total Viewers and 43% in Adults 18-49 season to date, qualifying as TV's fastest growing returning series.

Friday

ABC won Friday in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5), leading the night for the 5th time in 6 weeks.

· ABC's "Shark Tank" (2.0/7) and "20/20" (1.5/5-tie) once again ranked as the Top 2 TV shows on Friday in Adults 18-49. In fact, returning to original after the prior week's repeat, "Shark Tank" has now finished as Friday's No. 1 TV series on 21 of its 22 original telecasts this season in the key young adult sales demo.

· "20/20" continued to rank as the night's No. 1 newsmagazine, outdelivering NBC's "Dateline" in Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54).

"Last Man Standing" (8:00 -8:31 p.m. - 6.3 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49): At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Last Man Standing" won its half-hour in Adults 18-49 and held steady week to week, matching its best rating since January - since 1/31/14.

"The Neighbors" (8:31-9:00 p.m. - 3.9 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49): In the 8:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "The Neighbors" finished as the No. 2 comedy of the night in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, outperforming Fox's series finale of "Raising Hope."

"Shark Tank" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 7.5 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49): More than doubling its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+122%) in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Shark Tank" dominated its closest competition in the hour by 43% (2.0/7 vs. 1.4/5 - CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" and NBC's "Grimm" tied). The ABC unscripted series paced within 1-tenth of an Adult 18-49 rating point of its last original two weeks ago. On average, "Shark Tank" is growing by double digits in Total Viewers (+13%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%) over the same point last year, trending as the series' strongest season ever.

"20/20" (10:01-11pm - 6.5 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49): For the 6th week running, ABC's "20/20" ranked as the No. 1 regular program in the 10 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5-tied w/CBS' "Blue Bloods"), beating NBC's "Hannibal" by 88% (0.8/3). The ABC newsmagazine was up 7% week to week in Adults 18-49. "20/20" reported on questionable decisions some teenagers make and act on, leading to extremely dire consequences. Up season to date in Total Viewers (+21%), Adults 18-49 (+7%) and Adults 25-54 (+5%), "20/20" is on track to deliver its most-watched season in 4 years - since the 2009-10 season.

Saturday

"20/20-Saturday" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 2.5 million and 0.7/2 in AD18-49):

During the 9:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "20/20-Saturday" dominated Fox's series finale of "Rake" by 127% in Total Viewers (2.5 million vs. 1.1 million) and by 250% in Adults 18-49 (0.7/2 vs. 0.2/1). The ABC newsmagazine was up week to week in Total Viewers (+9%), Adults 18-49 (+40%) and Adults 25-54 (+29%). "20/20" Saturday posted double-digit gains over its year-ago telecast (on 4/6/13) in Adults 18-49 (+17% - 0.7/2 vs. 0.6/2) and Adults 25-54 (+13% - 0.9/3 vs. 0.8/2).

"Nightline Prime" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 3.3 million and 0.8/2 in AD18-49):

ABC's "Nightline Prime" hit season highs, growing for the 2nd week in a row in Total Viewers (+14%), Adults 18-49 (+33%) and Adults 25-54 (+25%). "Nightline Prime" boosted its hour year to year over original news programming on the same night last year by 10% in Total Viewers, 33% in Adults 18-49 and 25% in Adults 25-54.

Sunday

Against CBS with its annual 3-hour broadcast of the "ACM Awards" (8:00-11:00 p.m.), ABC (1.8/5) earned second place on Sunday in Adults 18-49, beating Fox by 120% (1.5/4) and NBC by 125% (0.8/3). The Net also took second in Total Viewers, leading third-place NBC by 2.8 million viewers (6.7 million vs. 3.9 million). ABC's "Once Upon a Time" stood as the No. 1 broadcast series on Sunday in Adults 18-49.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m. - 6.4 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49):

During the 7:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.4/5), beating "60 Minutes" by 8% (1.3/4), Fox's animated comedies by 40% ("Bob's Burgers"/"American Dad" = 1.0/3) and more than doubling NBC News' "Ann Curry Reports: Global Warming" (+133% - 0.6/2). "AFHV" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

"Once Upon a Time" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 7.3 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):

Spiking over its lead-in by 71% at 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Once Upon a Time" (2.4/7) finished No. 1 against its regular competition for the 5th-straight week among Adults 18-49, beating Fox's comedies by 14% ("The Simpsons"/"Family Guy" = 2.1/6) and NBC's "American Dream Builders" by 243% (0.7/2).

· "Once Upon a Time" grew week to week in Total Viewers (+11%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), matching its best young adult number since early October - since 10/6/13. In addition, the ABC drama was up for the 2nd week in a row with Adults 18-34 (+12%) and shot up 50% with Kids 2-11.

"Resurrection" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 8.0 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49):

During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Resurrection" (2.2/6) beat its regular broadcast competition for the 5th week in a row in Adults 18-49, more than doubling NBC's "Believe" (+120% - 1.0/2) and outdelivering Fox's "Cosmos" by 47% (1.5/4). Opposite big competition in the slot from the "Game of Thrones" premiere and against the strongest hour of the "ACM Awards," the new ABC drama delivered strong week to week retention in Total Viewers (95%) and Adults 18-49 (92%).

· On average, "Resurrection" delivers big gains to its preliminary numbers via TV playback, growing by +4.1 million viewers and adding +1.4 rating points among Adults 18-49 from its first-reported L+SD numbers to its L+7 ratings.

"Revenge" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Revenge" beat NBC's "Crisis" by 30% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.0/3) to rank as the No. 1 drama in its slot for the 4th time in 5 weeks. "Revenge" paced within 1-tenth of an Adult 18-49 rating point week to week.

WEEK NO. 28: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 CBS 2.1 No.1 CBS 10,080,000
No.2 ABC 1.6 No.2 ABC 6,390,000
No.3 NBC 1.5 No.3 NBC 5,720,000
No.4 FOX 1.2 No.4 FOX 3,990,000
No.5 CW 0.4 No.5 CW 1,180,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 03/31/14.