The alphabet network tells us that last week was a good one for them, the best in three weeks. Of particular note are the ratings for Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, The Bachelor, Cougar Town, Wipeout, Off the Map, The Middle, Detroit 1-8-7, No Ordinary Family, and Castle. Here’s the ABC press release…
Primetime Ratings Report For the week of January 31, 2011 (Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)
ABC Airs 4 of the Week’s Top 20 Regular Non-Sports TV Shows in Adults 18-49, With “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Modern Family,” “The Bachelor” and “Cougar Town”
The Network Grows its Adult 18-49 Audience with its Best Number in 3 Weeks
ABC Earns First-Place on Monday in Viewers and Adults 18-49, Ranking as the Night’s Most-Watched Network for the 2nd Week in a Row
Growing its Audience in Each Half-Hour, ABC’s “The Bachelor” Leads its Time-Slot and Hits Season Highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49
ABC’s “Castle” Sees Season-Best Replay Results in Viewers and Young Adults
ABC’s “No Ordinary Family” Generates its Best-Ever Repeat Numbers
Building on its Most Recent Original, ABC’s “Detroit 1-8-7” Hits its Best Numbers in Viewers and Young Adults Since Early December
With its 2nd-Biggest-Ever Repeat Audience on the Evening, ABC’s Encore “The Middle” Tops its Non-“Idol” Competition for the 2nd Straight Week
“Modern Family” Scores its Best-Ever Encore Numbers, Standing as The Highest-Rated Repeat Series Telecast on Any Net in 9 Months
Surging Week to Week in Viewers and Young Adults, ABC’s “Cougar Town” Marks its 2nd-Most-Watched Telecast Since November
Opposite CBS’ and NBC’s Original Dramas at 10 O’clock, ABC’s “Off the Map” Generates a Series-High in Women 18-34
Opposite Increased Competition, ABC’s “Wipeout” Builds Week to Week and Improves its Hour Year to Year by 55% in Viewers and 92% in Adults 18-49
On its Return to Original, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” Dominates its Slot In Adults 18-49, Marking its Highest Number Since Mid-October
ABC’s Replay “Wipeout” and “Saturday Night Movie: Shrek the Third” Produce the Net’s Strongest Saturday in 2 Years with Kids 2-11
WEEK No. 20:
During the week which included Super Bowl Sunday (w/o 1/31/11), ABC delivered 4 of the Top 20 regular non-sports TV programs in Adults 18-49: “Grey’s” – No. 5, “Modern Family – R” – No. 9, “The Bachelor” – No. 12 and “Cougar Town” – No. 20. On Monday, ABC’s “The Bachelor” posted season highs with viewers and young adults. On Wednesday, ABC’s “Modern Family” put up the show’s best-ever repeat numbers, scoring the top Adult 18-49 rating for any repeat series telecast on any network in 9 months. On Thursday, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” returned to original for the first time in 3 weeks, ranking as the night’s No. 1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49 and hitting its best number since mid-October.
· The Net built its Adult 18-49 audience by 6% week to week (1.8/5 vs. 1.7/5), with its top number in 3 weeks.
A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 39% currently, from 35% at the same point in 2010. 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 Bachelor” surging to season highs followed by a repeat “Castle,” ABC won Monday night in Total Viewers (8.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/7). In fact it was ABC’s 2nd straight week to qualify as Monday’s most-watched network overall. In addition the Net beat its Monday rivals in Women 18-34 for the 5th week running.
· ABC equaled its highest-rated Monday in 10 weeks among Adults 18-49 – since 11/22/10.
“The Bachelor” (8:00-10:01 p.m.)
The top draw among viewers in its slot for the 2nd week in a row, ABC’s “The Bachelor” won its 2-hour time period, beating its nearest competition (CBS) by 10% in Total Viewers (9.7 million vs. 8.8 million) and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/8 vs. 2.7/7). Taking first place in all 4 of its half-hours, the veteran unscripted series stood as Monday’s No. 1 TV program in Adults 18-49 (tie). In addition, “The Bachelor” was Monday’s No. 1 regular TV series with Women 18-34 for the 5th week running.
· Building its overall audience for the 3rd consecutive week, “The Bachelor” achieved new season highs in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
“Castle” (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
During the 10 o’clock hour against NBC’s original “Harry’s Law” and CBS’ replay “Hawaii Five-0,” ABC’s repeat “Castle” ranked No. 1 among Women 18-34 (1.8/5).
· In Total Viewers (6.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.7/5), “Castle” turned in its strongest repeat performance this season.
Tuesday
Returning to its regular midseason Tuesday lineup for the first time in three weeks, ABC surged 22% week to week in Total Viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.1 million) and 40% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.0/3).
“No Ordinary Family” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, “No Ordinary Family” produced its most-watched-ever repeat telecast (4.2 million) and equaled its highest-ever replay Adult 18-49 rating (1.1/3), despite going up against original competition on CBS (“NCIS”) and NBC (“The Biggest Loser: Couples”).
“V” (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
Building on its lead-in among viewers (+26%) and young adults (+55%) against CBS’ original “NCIS: Los Angeles” and the second hour of NBC’s 2-hour “The Biggest Loser: Couples,” ABC’s “V” defeated the season finale of Fox’s “Million Dollar Money Drop” in Adults 25-54 and key Men (M18-49/M25-54).
“Detroit 1-8-7” (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
Up from its most-recent original airing in early January (1/1/11), ABC’s “Detroit 1-8-7” drew its biggest overall audience (5.5 million) and tied its highest Adult 18-49 number (1.2/3) in nearly 2 months – since 12/7/10.
· Against original competition from CBS’ (“The Good Wife”) and NBC’s (“Parenthood”) dramas in the hour, “Detroit 1-8-7” built on its “V” lead-in in Total Viewers (5.5 million vs. 5.3 million) for the first time.
· In addition, ABC was the only net to build audience in the hour, as both CBS and NBC each lost viewers from 10:00-11:00 p.m. From its first half-hour to its second half-hour, “Detroit 1-8-7” gained 8% in both Total Viewers (5.3 million to 5.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.2/3 to 1.3/4).
Wednesday
ABC’s Wednesday lineup, featuring a mix of 3 repeat and 2 original programs, was up week to week in Total Viewers (+10% – 6.6 million vs. 6.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% – 2.2/6 vs. 2.1/6).
· The Net also grew its overall audience by 5% (6.6 million vs. 6.3 million) from the same night last year (2/3/10), which included nearly all original programming (1 repeat).
“The Middle” (8:00-8:30 p.m.)
At 8:00 p.m., for the 2nd week in a row, a repeat of ABC’s “The Middle” defeated its original non-“Idol” competition in viewers and young adults, leading NBC’s first-run “Minute to Win It” and CBS’ first-run “Live to Dance.”
· “The Middle” matched its 2nd-most-watched-ever repeat telecast on the night (6.8 million).
“The Middle-SP” (8:30-9:00 p.m.)
At 8:30 p.m., a special repeat of “The Middle” also finished No. 2 to “Idol” in Total Viewers (6.5 million), against the second half-hours of “Minute to Win It” (6.2 million) and “Live to Dance” (4.8 million)
“Modern Family” (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
At 9:00 p.m., ABC’s repeat “Modern Family” won its half-hour by 21% in Adults 18-49 (3.5/9), dominating Fox’s original “Idol”-fueled “Human Target” (2.9/8). In fact, ABC’s encore “Modern Family” stood as the No. 1 scripted television program on Wednesday in the key young adult sales demo, finishing as the No. 2 TV show overall on the night to “Idol.”
· For the 2nd week running, “Modern Family” put up the series’ best-ever repeat numbers, eclipsing the prior week’s highs by 26% in Total Viewers (9.2 million vs. 7.3 million) and by 35% in Adults 18-49 (3.5/9 vs. 2.6/7).
· “Modern Family” scored the highest Adult 18-49 rating for any repeat series telecast on any network in 9 months – since CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” (3.6/10) on 5/3/10, which had the advantage of coming out of an original “Big Bang.” In addition, “Modern Family” was ABC’s top-rated scripted repeat telecast in close to 4 years – since 3/29/07.
“Cougar Town” (9:30-10:00 p.m.)
At 9:30pm, ABC’s “Cougar Town” took second, defeating Fox’s “Idol”-fueled “Human Target” by 23% among Adults 18-49 (2.7/7 vs. 2.2/6). The ABC comedy also ranked No. 2 in its time period with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).
· “Cougar Town” was up sharply over the prior week in Total Viewers (+30% – 6.5 million vs. 5.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+35% – 2.7/7 vs. 2.0/5). The show drew its 2nd largest audience since November and hit its highest Adult 18-49 number in 4 weeks – since 11/24/10 and 1/5/11, respectively.
“Off the Map” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
ABC’s “Off the Map” earned second place in the 10 o’clock hour among Adults 18-49 (1.9/5) to NBC’s veteran “Law & Order: SVU,” beating CBS’ “Blue Bloods” by 19% (1.6/5).
· “Off the Map” grew week to week in Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49), achieving a new series-high with Women 18-34 (2.3/7).
· The new ABC drama improved the hour year to year by wide margins in Total Viewers (+35% – 5.4 million vs. 4.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+36% – 1.9/5 vs. 1.4/4) over the year-ago night with original drama programming (“Ugly Betty” on 2/3/10).
Thursday
ABC ranked No. 2 to an “Idol”-led Fox on the opening night of the February Sweep in Adults 18-49 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).
· In viewers (8.7 million) and young adults (3.1/8), ABC posted its strongest Thursday in 3 weeks.
“Wipeout” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
At 8:00 p.m., despite going up against Fox’s “American Idol” and CBS’ original comedies (“The Big Bang Theory”/”$#*! My Dad Says”), ABC’s Winter “Wipeout” grew week to week in Total Viewers (+4% – 7.9 million vs. 7.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% – 2.5/7 vs. 2.4/7). The ABC unscripted series dominated NBC’s original comedies (“Community”/”Perfect Couples” = 3.7 million and 1.7/5) in the hour, leading by 4.2 million viewers and by 47% in Adults 18-49. Building audience throughout its telecast, “Wipeout” ranked No. 2 to “Idol” at 8:30 p.m. with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34, Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.
· Although facing increased competition year to year, “Wipeout” improved the hour for ABC over the year-ago night by wide margins in viewers (+55%) and young adults (+92%).
“Grey’s Anatomy” (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
On its first original telecast in 3 weeks, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” turned in a dominant victory in Thursday’s 9 o’clock hour among Adults 18-49, qualifying as the No. 1 series in the slot for its 13th consecutive original telecast this season. In its time period, “Grey’s” (4.3/11) beat out Fox’s “Idol”-fueled “Bones” by 30% (3.3/9), NBC’s comedies (“The Office”/”Parks and Recreation”) by 39% (3.3/9) and CBS’ “CSI” by 43% (3.0/8). “Grey’s” registered as Thursday’s No. 1 scripted TV program (tie) in the key young adult sales demo.
· On its return to first-run, ABC’s “Grey’s” matched its highest Adult 18-49 number since mid-October – since 10/14/10.
“Private Practice” (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
Returning to original for the first time in 4 weeks, ABC’s “Private Practice” (7.0 million and 2.5/7) beat out NBC’s comedies (“30 Rock”/”Outsourced” = 4.3 million and 2.1/6) in the 10:00 p.m. hour by 2.7 million viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49. In addition, for its 12th straight original telecast this season, the ABC drama stood as the No. 1 scripted TV show in the 10 o’clock hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).
Saturday
ABC’s Saturday rebroadcast lineup of “Wipeout” and the “ABC Saturday Night Movie of the Week: Shrek the Third” delivered the Net’s strongest performance on the night among Kids 2-11 (1.8/7) in over 2 years – since 12/20/08.
· The “ABC Saturday Night Movie of the Week: Shrek the Third” saw its audience grow from its first hour to its second hour in Total Viewers (4.5 million to 5.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 to 1.6/5), ranking No. 1 from 10:00-11:00 p.m. in the key young adult sales demo.
Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings), week of 1/31/11, unless stated otherwise.
