ABC's DWTS the Results Grows Against Idol

Some early info on ABC's Tuesday, ahead of the regular press release.

Tuesday Night (8-11pm)

With its line-up of DWTS the Results, Lost and V, ABC grew its Tuesday numbers year to year for the 3rd week in a row. ABC's results were up over the same Tuesday last year (4/14/09), also a night of all-original programming, by 10% in Total Viewers (9.6 million vs. 8.7 million) and by 32% in Adults 18-49 (2.9/8 vs. 2.2/6).

DWTS the Results Show (8-9pm)

Improving its new earlier 8pm time period year to year for ABC against Fox's American Idol, ABC's DWTS the Results Show finished as the second-most-watched program in its hour (13.4 million), outdrawing NBC's Biggest Loser by 6.1 million viewers (7.3 million) and CBS' NCIS encore by 2.6 million viewers (10.8 million). Actor Aiden Turner was the 3rd celebrity to be eliminated from the dance competition this season. Drawing its 2nd-highest numbers this season, the ABC dancing results show was up over the prior week by 1.0 million viewers (13.4 million vs. 12.4 million) and by 8% with Adults 18-49 (2.7/8 vs. 2.5/7)

Lost (9-10pm)

Opposite stiff original demographic competition at 9pm on Fox (third half-hour of American Idol into the highly-promoted return of Glee) and NBC (second hour of a 2-hour Biggest Loser), ABC's Lost surged from its lead-in by 41% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/10), beating out its non-Idol-driven competition in the time period on NBC (Biggest Loser = 3.7/9) and CBS (NCIS: LA replay = 1.9/5).

V (10-11pm)

Against Fox's special Glee overrun, ABC's V finished #2 against its regular 10pm competition among young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49), while leading its regular NBC (Parenthood) and CBS (The Good Wife) drama competition for the 3rd consecutive week across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54). V continued to grow the time period year to year for ABC, over original drama programming on the year-ago night, boosting the 10pm hour by 35% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 1.7/5).

Quick Take for Tuesday, April 13, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Building its Tuesday Numbers Year to Year for the 3rd Week in a Row, ABC is Up by 10% in Viewers and by 32% in Adults 18-49 Over the Year-Ago Night

Improving its Earlier 8pm Time Period for ABC Against "American Idol," "DWTS the Results Show" Grows Week to Week in Viewers and Young Adults

Surging from its Lead-in by 41% Among Adults 18-49, "Lost" Beats its Non-"Idol"-Driven Competition in the 9 O'clock Hour

"V" Finishes No. 2 Against its Regular Competition in Young Adults and No. 1 Across Key Men, Improving its Hour for ABC by 35% in Adults 18-49

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

With its lineup of "DWTS the Results Show," "Lost" and "V," ABC grew its Tuesday numbers year to year for the 3rd week in a row. ABC's results were up over the same Tuesday last year (4/14/09), also a night of all-original programming, by 10% in Total Viewers (9.6 million vs. 8.7 million) and by 32% in Adults 18-49 (2.9/8 vs. 2.2/6).

"DWTS the Results Show" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Improving its new earlier 8 o'clock time period year to year for ABC against Fox's "American Idol," ABC's "DWTS the Results Show" finished as the second-most-watched TV program in its hour (13.4 million), outdrawing the opening hour of NBC's "Biggest Loser" by 6.1 million viewers (7.3 million) and CBS' "NCIS" encore by 2.6 million viewers (10.8 million). Actor Aiden Turner was the 3rd celebrity to be eliminated from the dance competition this season.

· Drawing its 2nd-highest numbers this season, the ABC dancing results show was up over the prior week by 1.0 million viewers (13.4 million vs. 12.4 million) and by 8% with Adults 18-49 (2.7/8 vs. 2.5/7)

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

Opposite stiff original demographic competition at 9:00p.m. on Fox (third half-hour of "American Idol" into the highly-promoted return of "Glee") and NBC (second hour of a 2-hour "Biggest Loser"), ABC's "Lost" surged from its lead-in by 41% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/10), beating out its non-"Idol"-driven competition in the time period on NBC ("Biggest Loser" = 3.7/9) and CBS ("NCIS: LA" replay = 1.9/5).

"V" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Opposite Fox's special "Glee" overrun, ABC's "V" finished No. 2 against its regular 10 o'clock competition among young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49), while leading its NBC ("Parenthood") and CBS ("The Good Wife") drama competition for the 3rd consecutive week across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

· "V" continued to grow the time period year to year for ABC over original drama programming on the year-ago night ("Cupid"), boosting the 10:00 p.m. hour by 35% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 1.7/5).

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 31% 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), 4/13/10.