ABC Overshadows Wednesday with Most-Watched CMAs in 4 Years

Some top line points on ABC's Wednesday broadcast of the CMAs, ahead of the regular ratings release...

With the Network's broadcast of the 43rd Annual CMA Awards, ABC overshadowed Wednesday's prime, topping its second-place CBS on the evening by 5.5 million viewers (16.8 million vs. 11.3 million) and by 68% in Adults 18-49 (5.2/14 vs. 3.1/8). ABC ranked #1 in all 6 half-hours of the night in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact it was a clean sweep on the night, as the Network also took top honors on the evening with across all key Adults, Men and Women demographics (18-34/18-49/25-54), as well as registering as the top-rated broadcaster with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

� ABC attracted its biggest Wednesday audience with non-sports programming in well over 4 years and its highest Adult 18-49 rating in 2 years � since 9/21/05 and 11/17/07, respectively.

� Year to year, the CMA Awards gained nearly 1 million viewers and grew by 4% in Adults 18-49 (2008 = 15.9 million and 5.0/13 on 11/12/08). It was the most-watched CMA Awards telecast in 4 years, while the annual awards show posted its highest Adult 18-34 number in 5 years and best Women 18-34 number in 6 years � since 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

ABC's telecast of the 2009 CMA Awards outperformed CBS' telecast of the 2009 ACM Awards in April by 2.0 million viewers and by 37% in Adults 18-49 (CBS' ACM Awards on 4/5/09 = 14.8 million viewers and 3.8/10 in AD18-49).

Quick Take for Wednesday, November 11, 2009 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

With "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," ABC Dominates Wednesday Evening, Beating Second-Place CBS by 5.5 Million Viewers and by 68% in Adults 18-49

ABC Sees Most-Watched Non-Sports Wednesday Since September 2004 And its Highest Adult 18-49 Number on the Night Since November 2007

Up Year to Year in Viewers and Young Adults, ABC's "CMA Awards" is the Most Watched in 4 Years and Marks its Top-Rated Telecast in 6 Years in Women 18-34

ABC's "CMA Awards" Overshadows CBS' 2009 "ACM Awards" Telecast

"The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

With the Network's broadcast of "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," ABC overshadowed Wednesday's prime, beating out second-place CBS on the evening by 5.5 million viewers (16.8 million vs. 11.3 million) and by 68% in Adults 18-49 (5.2/14 vs. 3.1/8). ABC ranked No. 1 in all 6 half-hours of the night in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact it was a clean sweep on the night, as the Network also took top honors on the evening across all key Adults, Men and Women demographics (18-34/18-49/25-54), as well as registering as the top-rated broadcaster with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

� ABC attracted its biggest Wednesday audience with non-sports programming in well over 4 years and its highest Adult 18-49 number in 2 years � since 9/21/05 and 11/17/07, respectively.

� Year to year, the "CMA Awards" gained nearly 1 million viewers and grew 4% in Adults 18-49 (2008 = 15.9 million and 5.0/13 on 11/12/08). It was the most-watched "CMA Awards" telecast in 4 years, while the annual awards show marked its highest Adult 18-34 number in 5 years (4.1/12-tie) and top Women 18-34 number in 6 years (5.7/15) � since 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

� ABC's telecast of the "CMA Awards" outperformed CBS' 2009 telecast of the "ACM Awards" in April by 2.0 million viewers and by 37% in Adults 18-49 (CBS' "ACM Awards" on 4/5/09 = 14.8 million viewers and 3.8/10 in AD18-49).

� An estimated 35.8 million viewers watched at least some portion of the "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" during its 3-hour telecast � unique Viewers 2+ that watched 6 minutes or more of the program.

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 33% currently, from 28% at the same point in 2008. 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: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 11/11/09.