ABC TV Show Ratings for Sunday, October 7, 2012

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.