With the exception of America’s Funniest Home Videos (which had its season premiere last night), all of ABC’s other primetime shows (Once Upon a Time, Revenge, and 666 Park Avenue) were down significantly compared to one week earlier. Still, the alphabet network has a positive spin on the ratings. Have a read.

ABC is Up 15% Over the Year-Ago Sunday in Adults 18-49

Early info on ABC’s Sunday, ahead of the regular press release.

Up against NBC’s Sunday Night Football and an NFL-overrun boosted CBS, ABC outdrew Fox’s Sunday night schedule by 2.0 million viewers.

· ABC was up from the year-ago Sunday by 15% in Adults 18-49.

During the 7 o’clock hour, opposite CBS’ huge Broncos-Patriots NFL primetime overrun, ABC’s season opener of America’s Funniest Home Videos grew from its year-ago season premiere in Total Viewers, across the Women demos and with Kids 2-11. The veteran ABC video clip show retained 100% of its year-ago opener with Adults 18-49.

· From its first half-hour to its second half-hour, AFVH saw its numbers shoot up by 26% in viewers and by 50% in young adults.

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+120%) and building audience from start to finish, ABC’s Once Upon a Time finished #1 against its non-sports competition from 8-9pm, beating an NFL-overrun-fueled CBS by 10% (60 Minutes/Amazing Race) and Fox’s animated comedies by 22% (The Simpsons/Bob’s Burgers). Once Upon a Time won its hour across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) and stood as Sunday’s #1 TV show with Women 18-34 for the 2nd week in a row. The Disney-owned drama retained over 90% of its big week-ago premiere with Women 18-34 (92%) and Kids 2-11 (94%).

· Once Upon a Time boosted its time period over the year-ago night by 30% in Total Viewers and by 65% in Adults 18-49.

· Based on early DVR playback for the new season (Live + 3 Day), Once Upon a Time saw its numbers spike by 2.4 million viewers and by 1.1 Adult 18-49 rating points over its initially-reported Live + Same Day ratings.

During the 9 o’clock hour, Revenge moved ABC further ahead of its CBS competition, beating out the combination of Amazing Race and The Good Wife by 30% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC sophomore drama ranked as the #1 entertainment program in its time period with key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· ABC’s Revenge was up from its year-ago performance on Wednesday night (on 10/5/11) in both viewers (+8%) and young adults (+8%).

· A big gainer in DVR playback, Revenge built from its L+SD to L+3 numbers by 2.2 million viewers and nearly 1.0 Adult 18-49 rating point (+0.9).

Topping CBS’ dramas (The Good Wife/The Mentalist) in the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s 666 Park Avenue ranked as the #1 non-sports program in its time slot for the 2nd week in a row with key Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49).

· During its first 3 days of DVR playback, 666 Park Avenue saw its Adult 18-49 rating jump by 38% and added on another 2.0 million viewers over its Live + Same Day numbers.

Quick Take for Sunday, October 7, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Grows 15% in Adults 18-49 Over the Year-Ago Sunday Evening

ABC’s Season Opener of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” is Up Year to Year

Building on its Lead-in and Gaining Audience Throughout its Broadcast, ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” is No. 1 Against its Non-Sports Competition in Adults 18-49

In its New Time Slot, ABC’s “Revenge” is Up Over its Year-Ago Wednesday Results

“666 Park Avenue” is Again the No. 1 Non-Sports Show in its Slot with Young Adults

Sunday Night (7:00-11:00 p.m.)

Up against NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” and an NFL-overrun boosted CBS, ABC outdrew Fox’s Sunday night schedule by 2.0 million viewers (7.4 million vs. 5.4 million).

· ABC was up from the year-ago Sunday by 15% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 2.0/5).

“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (7:00-8:00 p.m.)

During the 7 o’clock hour, opposite CBS’ huge Broncos-Patriots NFL primetime overrun, ABC’s season opener of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” grew from its year-ago season premiere in Total Viewers, across the Women demos and with Kids 2-11. The veteran ABC video clip show retained 100% of its year-ago opener with Adults 18-49 (1.5/4).

· From its first half-hour to its second half-hour, “AFVH” saw its numbers shoot up by 26% in viewers (5.7 million to 7.2 million) and by 50% in young adults (1.2/3 to 1.8/5).

“Once Upon a Time” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+120%) and building audience from start to finish, ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” (3.3/8) finished No. 1 against its non-sports competition from 8:00-9:00 p.m., beating an NFL-overrun-fueled CBS by 10% (“60 Minutes”/”The Amazing Race” = 3.0/8) and Fox’s animated comedies by 22% (“The Simpsons”/”Bob’s Burgers” = 2.7/7). “Once Upon a Time” won its hour across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) and stood as Sunday’s No. 1 TV show with Women 18-34 for the 2nd week in a row. In addition, The Disney-owned drama retained over 90% of its big week-ago premiere with Women 18-34 (92%) and Kids 2-11 (94%).

· “Once Upon a Time” boosted its time period for ABC over the year-ago night by 30% in Total Viewers (9.6 million vs. 7.4 million) and by 65% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/8 vs. 2.0/5).

· Based on early DVR playback for the new season (Live + 3 Day), “Once Upon a Time” saw its numbers spike by 2.4 million viewers and by 1.1 Adult 18-49 rating points over its initially-reported Live + Same Day ratings.

“Revenge” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

During the 9 o’clock hour, “Revenge” moved ABC further ahead of its CBS competition, beating out the combination of “The Amazing Race” and “The Good Wife” by 30% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/6 vs. 2.0/5). In addition, the ABC sophomore drama ranked as the No. 1 entertainment program in its time period with key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· On its new night and time, ABC’s “Revenge” was up from its year-ago performance on Wednesday night (7.7 million and 2.4/6 on 10/5/11) in both viewers (+8%) and young adults (+8%).

· A big gainer in DVR playback, “Revenge” built from its L+SD to L+3 numbers by 2.2 million viewers and nearly 1.0 Adult 18-49 rating point (+0.9).

“666 Park Avenue” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Topping CBS’ dramas (“The Good Wife”/”The Mentalist” = 1.0/3 and 1.6/4) in the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s “666 Park Avenue” (1.3/4 and 1.7/4) ranked as the No. 1 non-sports program in its time slot for the 2nd week in a row with key Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49). The new ABC drama was also the entertainment leader in the hour across all key Women demographics.

· During its first 3 days of DVR playback, “666 Park Avenue” saw its Adult 18-49 rating jump by 38% and added on another 2.0 million viewers over its Live + Same Day numbers.

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 46% currently, from 42% at the same point in 2011. 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.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings), 10/07/12.