ABC's "Lost" Grows Against Olympics and Idol

Some early points for ABC's Tuesday ahead of the regular press release.

Tuesday Prime (8-11pm): Although airing against the Winter Olympics this year, ABC surged over the year-ago Tuesday for the 3rd week in a row, jumping year to year by 37% among Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 1.9/5 on 2/24/09).

Lost (9-10pm): Opposite considerable competition from the Vancouver Olympics and the second hour of Fox's American Idol (Top 12 female semifinals performances) from 9-10pm, ABC's Lost shot up from its lead-in by 5.5 million viewers (9.9 vs. 4.4 million) and by 188% in young adults (4.6/11 vs. 1.6/4) and built its audience from start to finish (+5% in viewers/+7% in young adults). In fact for the 2nd week in a row, Lost defeated NBC's Olympic coverage in the 9 o'clock in both Adults 18-34 (+10% - 4.3/11 vs. 3.9/10) and Men 18-34 (+29% - 4.5/12 vs. 3.5/10).

� Against the Winter Games and Idol, Lost grew its numbers over the prior week in both Total Viewers (9.9 million vs. 9.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.6/12 vs. 4.5/11).

� Despite the intensified competition this year, Lost was up over the same telecast last season (Episode 4) in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (9.8 million & 4.4/10 on 2/11/09).

� Lost qualified as Tuesday's #1 scripted TV program for the 4th consecutive week in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and across key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

the forgotten (10-11pm): During the 10 o'clock hour against the Olympics, ABC's the forgotten stood as TV's #1 scripted show in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5) for its 2nd consecutive telecast, generating the series' 2nd-highest number since mid-November � since 11/17/09.

Quick Take for Tuesday, February 23, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Builds on the Year-Ago Tuesday in Adults 18-49 for the 3rd Week in a Row

Jumping Over its Lead-in and Building Throughout its Telecast, ABC's "Lost" Is Tuesday's No. 1 Scripted TV Program in Adults 18-49 for the 4th Straight Week

Opposite the Olympics and "Idol," "Lost" is Up Week to Week and Year to Year

For its 2nd Straight Telecast, ABC's "the forgotten" is TV's No. 1 Scripted Show At 10pm in Adults 18-49, Marking its 2nd-Highest Number Since Mid-November

Tuesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

Although airing against the Winter Olympics this year, ABC grew over the year-ago Tuesday (2/24/09) for the 3rd week in a row, jumping year to year by 37% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 1.9/5).

"Lost" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Opposite considerable competition from the Vancouver Olympics and the second hour of Fox's "American Idol" (Top 12 female semifinals performances) from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Lost" shot up from its lead-in by 5.5 million viewers (9.9 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 188% in young adults (4.6/11 vs. 1.6/4) and built its audience from start to finish (+5% in viewers/+7% in young adults). In fact for the 2nd week in a row, "Lost" outperformed NBC's Olympic coverage in the 9 o'clock in both Adults 18-34 (+10% - 4.3/11 vs. 3.9/10) and Men 18-34 (+29% - 4.5/12 vs. 3.5/10).

� Against the Winter Games and "Idol," "Lost" grew its numbers over the prior week in both Total Viewers (9.9 million vs. 9.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.6/12 vs. 4.5/11).

� Despite the intensified competition this year, "Lost" was up over the same telecast last season (Episode 4) in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (9.8 million & 4.4/10 on 2/11/09).

� "Lost" qualified as Tuesday's No. 1 scripted TV program for the 4th consecutive week in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and across key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

"the forgotten" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour against the Olympics, ABC's "the forgotten" registered as TV's No. 1 scripted show in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5) for the 2nd straight telecast, generating the series' 2nd-highest number since mid-November � since 11/17/09.

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 36% currently, from 30% at the same point in 2009. 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), 2/23/10.