ABC TV Show Ratings: October 12, 2010; Only Network Up Year-to-Year

Though they’re having challenges with some of their new shows (The Whole Truth, Detroit 1-8-7, and the now canceled My Generation), ABC is touting that they’re the only network to be up in the ratings versus this time last year.

Here’s their spin on the TV show ratings from last night…

ABC is the Only Net Up on Tuesday Year to Year

Tuesday Prime: Bolstered by its new Tuesday schedule, ABC tallied strong year-to-year gains for the 3rd consecutive week, building on the same night last year (10/13/09) by 1.4 million viewers (10.3 million vs. 8.9 million) and by 14% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/7 vs. 2.2/6). In fact ABC was the only net to see its Tuesday numbers improve year to year in viewers and young adults. ABC qualified as the 2nd-most-watched network overall on Tuesday to CBS, outdrawing Fox by 2.3 million viewers (8.0 million) and NBC by 4.1 million viewers (6.2 million).

No Ordinary Family: In one of the most-competitive hours on TV this season (opposite Fox’s Glee, CBS’ NCIS and NBC’s The Biggest Loser), ABC’s No Ordinary Family continued to deliver big year-over-year time-period growth for ABC in the Tuesday’s 8 o’clock hour, gain audience throughout its broadcast and outdraw established time period competition.

· In its time period, ABC freshman No Ordinary Family topped NBC’s time-period established The Biggest Loser by more than 1 million viewers (7.7 million vs. 6.6 million). Building audience in the opening hour of the evening, self-starter No Ordinary increased its Total Viewers (+5% – 7.5 million to 7.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9% – 2.2/6 to 2.4/6) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

· Growing its time slot by wide margins year to year on all 3 of its telecasts, on average No Ordinary Family is improving the hour for ABC by 4.1 million viewers and by 80% in Adults 18-49 from the same point last season.

DWTS: The Results: Building on its lead-in and picking up audience throughout its telecast against tough competition (CBS’ NCIS: LA, NBC’s second hour of The Biggest Loser and Fox’s Glee-fueled comedies Raising Hope/Running Wilde), ABC’s Dancing with the Stars: The Results finished a strong second in its hour among Total Viewers (15.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.4/9). The ABC dance competition ranked a dominant #1 in its slot among Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). DWTS: The Results held big advantages over its unscripted competition in the time period, besting The Biggest Loser (7.3 million and 2.8/7) by 8.4 million viewers and by 21% in Adults 18-49. Reality star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino was the fourth celebrity eliminated from the dance competition this season. The ABC dancing results show continues to trend ahead of its year-ago performance, up on average this season by 3.9 million viewers and by 36% in Adults 18-49 from the same point a year ago.

Detroit 1-8-7: Opposite CBS’ sophomore The Good Wife, ABC’s Detroit 1-8-7 was once again the 2nd-most-watched TV show in the 10 o’clock hour, outdrawing NBC’s sophomore drama Parenthood for the 4th consecutive week (+2.7 million viewer advantage – 7.4 million vs. 4.7 million). The new ABC drama also finished #2 in the hour for the 4th week running with Adults 25-54.