• Tuesday, March 25, 2008
    ABC Television Network
    PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT -
    WEEKLY PRIMETIME RATINGS (WK OF 3/17)
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    Primetime Ratings Report
    For the week of March 17, 2008
    (Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)
    Taking Second to Fox for the Week in Viewers, ABC Qualifies as the
    Only Net to Increase its Overall Audience from the Same Week Last Year

    Excluding the Week of the Academy Awards, ABC Delivers
    Its Biggest Weekly Audience in Nearly 4 Months

    ABC Airs 4 of the Top 10 TV Shows of the Week in Viewers and Young Adults  

    With the Return of "Dancing with the Stars" Leading into "The Bachelor,"
    ABC Posts a Definitive Monday Night Victory in Viewers and Adults 18-49

    Opposite Stiff All-Original Competition, ABC's Sixth Season Opener for "Dancing
    With the Stars" Emerges as Monday's No. 1 TV Show in Viewers and All Key Adults

    In its Season Opener, "The Bachelor: London Calling" Wins its Time Slot Among
    Adults 18-34, Ranking as Monday's No. 2 Show in the Demo, Behind Only "DWTS"

    ABC Takes Second on Tuesday to Fox in Viewers and Young Adults,
    Marking its Strongest Performance on the Night Since November

    Jumping from its Lead-in and Building Audience Against an Expanded "Idol," ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Stands as Tuesday's No. 2 Show in Viewers & Young Adults
     
    Back-to-Back Premiere Episodes of "Miss Guided" Garner ABC's Top
    Young Adult Numbers in the Thursday 8-9pm Hour in 7 Weeks

    "Lost" is Thursday's No. 1 TV Show in Viewers and Across the Key Adult Demos, Leading the 9 O'clock Hour in Adults 18-49 for the 8th Week in a Row  

    ABC's "Eli Stone" Beats NBC's "Lipstick Jungle" Season Finale in Total Viewers

    "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Tops Sunday at 8pm in Viewers and Adults 18-49

    Growing its Overall Audience Week to Week, "Oprah's Big Give"
    Dominates Sunday's 9 O'clock Hour for the Fourth Week in a Row

    "Here Come the Newlyweds" Takes First Place in Sunday's
    10pm Hour Among Adults 18-49 for the Fourth Straight Week
    WEEK No. 26:
    ABC took second place to Fox during the week of March 17, 2008, in Total Viewers (9.2 million) and across each of the key women demographics: W18-34 (2.9/9), W18-49 (3.6/10) and W25-54 (4.3/11).

    * Excluding the week of its Academy Awards telecast (w/o 2/18/08), ABC attracted its largest audience in nearly 4 months - since the week of 11/26/07. In addition, ABC was the only network to increase its overall audience from the same week last year (9.2 million vs. 9.0 million - w/o 3/19/07).

    Rankings: ABC aired 6 of the week's Top 20 TV programs among Adults 18-49, including 4 in the Top 10: "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 3, "Lost" - No. 5, "Dancing w/Stars SP-3/18" - No. 9, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" - No. 10, "Oprah's Big Give" - No. 14 and "The Bachelor: London Calling" - No. 17. The Net also claimed 4 of the Top 10 most-watched television programs for the week, with "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 3, "Dancing w/Stars SP-3/18" - No. 4, "Lost" - No. 9 and "Home Edition" - No. 10.

    A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating trends based on the Live + Same Day data stream may be somewhat distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has nearly doubled from over 13% at the same point in 2006, up to more than 23% currently. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

    Monday
    With the sixth season premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" on the night leading into the opener for "The Bachelor: London Calling," ABC stood as the No. 1 TV network on Monday in viewers and young adults. The Network outpaced second-place CBS on the night by 4.4 million viewers (15.0 million vs. 10.6 million - CBS) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (4.4/12 vs. 4.0/10).

    * ABC turned in its strongest performance on the night since November in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (since 11/19/07), while marking a Monday season high among Adults 18-34 (3.8/11 - best since 5/21/07.

    * ABC's broad appealing "Dancing with the Stars" qualified as Monday's No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers and across each of the key adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

    "Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:32 p.m.)
    Despite facing stiff all-original competition in its sixth season premiere, including the return of CBS' 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedy block, NBC's unscripted series ("My Dad is Better than Your Dad"/"Deal or No Deal") and Fox's first-run dramas ("Canterbury's Law"/"New Amsterdam"), ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" won each of its half-hours and soared to the top of its time period. "Dancing with the Stars" outdrew its nearest competition (CBS) by 10.3 million viewers (21.2 million vs. 10.9 million) and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (5.6/15 vs. 4.5/12).

    * The return of "DWTS" generated ABC's largest audience in the time period in 4 months - since 11/19/07. The hit unscripted series equaled season-highs for ABC in the time slot among Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34, the Net's best number in almost a year on the latter measure - since 3/26/07.

    "The Bachelor: London Calling" (9:32-11:00 p.m.)
    ABC's "The Bachelor: London Calling" opened with an average audience of 8.6 million viewers and a 3.2 rating, 9 share in Adults 18-49. The show ranked No. 1 in its time slot among Adults 18-34 (3.4/10), Women 18-49 (4.9/12) and Women 18-34 (5.1/4). In fact trailing only "DWTS," "The Bachelor" stood as the No. 2 TV program on Monday in Adults 18-34 and among its core audience of Women 18-34.

    * "The Bachelor: London Calling" produced ABC's top viewer and young adult (AD18-34/AD18-49) numbers with regular programming in the time period since November - since 11/19/07.

    * "The Bachelor" tallied its highest opening numbers in 3 years (since Spring '05) in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, going back over 5 editions of the franchise - best start since 3/28/05.

    Tuesday
    On the second evening of "Dancing with the Stars," featuring the women celebrity dancers, ABC took second place to an "Idol"-fueled Fox on Tuesday in Total Viewers (12.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.1/8).

    * In viewers and young adults, ABC posted its strongest Tuesday since November - since 11/27/07.

    "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)
    ABC's special airing of "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" delivered ABC's top non-sports numbers in the time period since December among Total Viewers (6.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.9/5) - since 12/18/07.

    * "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" was up from its most recent airing by 11% in Total Viewers and by 6% in Adults 18-49 (5.6 million & 1.8/5 on 4/11/06).

    "Dancing with the Stars" (9:00-10:32 p.m.)
    Surging from its lead-in and gaining audience throughout its telecast, against Fox's expanded 2-hour edition of "American Idol," ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" took second place in the 9 o'clock hour and moved up into the No. 1 position at 10:00 p.m. among viewers and young adults. In fact "DWTS" stood as Tuesday's No. 2 TV program (behind only "Idol) in Total Viewers (17.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.1/10). From start to finish, "Dancing" saw its audience swell by 5.4 million viewers (14.8 million to 20.2 million) and by 53% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/8 to 5.2/13). Also worth noting in an unusual turn of events, Fox's "American Idol" saw its overall audience decline by nearly 1 million viewers from its first hour to its second hour (27.8 million to 26.9 million), up against "DWTS."

    * "DWTS" produced ABC's top viewer and young adult numbers in the time slot in 4 months - since 11/27/07.

    "Miss Guided" (10:32-11:00 p.m.)
    A special preview airing of "Miss Guided" was the most-watched show in its time slot (9.3 million), also delivering the No. 1 position with Adults 18-34 (2.2/7) and Adults 25-54 (3.4/9-tie).

    Wednesday
    "Supernanny" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
    "Supernanny" saw increases over the previous week in Total Viewers (7.0 million vs. 5.9 million), Adults 18-34 (2.5/7 vs. 2.0/6) and Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 2.3/6), finishing second in the hour behind only Fox's "American Idol."

    Thursday
    ABC took second place on Thursday night in Adults 18-49 (3.0/9) to CBS' NCAA Basketball coverage, and delivered the No. 1 position on the evening among Adults 25-54 (3.7/10) and across the key women demographics: W18-34 (3.1/9), W18-49 (3.6/10-tie) and W25-54 (4.4/11-tie).

    "Miss Guided" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
    Building young adult audience for ABC in the 8:00-9:00 p.m. hour (2.1/7 to 2.3/7), back-to-back premiere episodes of "Miss Guided" delivered the Net's highest Adult 18-49 numbers (2.2/7) in the time period in 7 weeks - since 1/31/08. The new ABC comedy earned second place in the hour across each of the women demos: W18-34 (2.4/8), W18-49 (2.8/9) and W25-54 (3.5/10).


    "Lost" (9:00-10:02 p.m.)
    Building on its lead-in, ABC's "Lost" posted a definitive victory in Thursday's 9 o'clock hour among Total Viewers (11.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.6/12). "Lost" won its time period for the eighth straight week in the key young adult sales demographic.

    * "Lost" qualified as Thursday's No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (11.6 million) across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (3.9/12), A18-49 (4.6/12) and A25-54 (5.3/13).

    "Eli Stone" (10:02-11:00 p.m.)
    ABC's freshman "Eli Stone" took second during in the 10 o'clock hour among Total Viewers (7.5 million) and across key women: W18-34 (2.0/6-tie), W18-49 (2.7/7) and W25-54 (3.5/9).

    "Eli Stone" beat the season finale of NBC's "Lipstick Jungle" in Total Viewers (7.3 million vs. 7.0 million).

    Friday
    "20/20-SP" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
    In a Diane Sawyer Special, ABC News' "20/20" at 9:00 p.m., Part 1 of "Prostitution in America: Working Girls Speak" drew 6.3 million viewers and a 1.8 rating, 6 share in Adults 18-49, taking second in the hour in both measures.

    "20/20" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
    Building on its lead-in by 1.1 million viewers and by 28% in young adults, Part 2 of ABC News' "20/20: Prostitution in America: Working Girls Speak" also placed second in its hour in Total Viewers (7.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.3/7). The ABC news magazine led its time-slot across each of the key women demographics: Women 18-34 (2.1/7), Women 18-49 (2.9/9) and Women 25-54 (3.6/9).

    * "20/20" stood as Friday's No. 1 program in Women 18-49 and Women 25-54.

    Saturday
    Saturday Primetime: "The Ten Commandments" (8:00-11:00 p.m.)
    ABC's annual broadcast "The Ten Commandments," drew 8.0 million and 2.3 rating, 7 share in Adults 18-49 during primetime on Saturday. The 1956 theatrical matched the Network's highest young adult rating on the night this season with non-sports programming.

    Sunday
    ABC won Easter Sunday in Total Viewers (9.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.1/9), its fifth week in a row to lead the evening on both Nielsen measures. The Network dominated the evening in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic, leading second-place CBS by 24% (2.5/7) and third-place NBC and Fox (tie) by 82% (1.7/5). Following CBS' NCAA Basketball tournament coverage overrun during the 7 o'clock hour, ABC won each half-hour from 8:00-11:00 p.m. among young adults

    * ABC aired the Top 2 TV shows on Sunday in Adults 18-49 with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Oprah's Big Give." ABC's "Home Edition" was Sunday's most-watched TV show overall.

    "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m.)
    ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" took second place to CBS' NCAA Basketball tournament overrun during the 7 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.3/8).


    "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8:00-9:01 p.m.)
    Sunday's No. 1 TV program, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" moved ABC up into first place in the 8 o'clock hour, topping its closest competition (CBS) in Total Viewers (11.4 million vs. 11.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.0/11 vs. 2.6/7).

    "Oprah's Big Give" (9:01-10:02 p.m.)
    For the fourth week in a row, ABC's "Oprah's Big Give" dominated its 9 o'clock time period, outdelivering its closest competition by 2.1 million viewers (9.8 million vs. 7.7 million - NBC) and by 62% in Adults 18-49 (3.5/9 vs. 2.1/5 - CBS).

    * "Oprah's Big Give" grew its overall audience week to week (9.8 million vs. 9.7 million).

    "Here Come the Newlyweds" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
    ABC's "Here Come the Newlyweds" won its time period for the fourth consecutive week in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8), beating second-place NBC by 17% (2.4/6 - "L&O: SVU") and third-place CBS by 65% (1.7/5 - "Dexter"). In addition, the new ABC series also led the hour in Adults 18-34 (2.7/8) and Adults 25-54 (3.0/8). 

    WEEK NO. 26:  ADULTS 18-49        TOTAL VIEWERS

    
              No.1  FOX 3.7   No.1 FOX  10,070,000

    
              No.2  CBS 3.0   No.2 ABC   9,190,000

    
              No.3  ABC 2.8   No.3 CBS   8,820,000

    
              No.4  NBC 2.1   No.4 NBC   7,130,000

    
              No.5  CW  1.0   No.5 CW    2,420,000


    Source: Nielsen Media Research (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 3/17/08, unless stated otherwise.
    ABC Media Relations Contact:
    Jeff Lindsey (818) 460-5095 jeffrey.s.lindsey@disney.com
    Pons Rongavilla (818) 460-5615 ponciano.rongavilla@disney.com
    Susan Sewell (212) 456-1508 susan.l.sewell@disney.com