ABC's DWTS Finale Posts Most-Competitive Finish Ever to Idol-Tuesday Finale

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

With 10th-season the season closer of Dancing with the Stars, ABC nearly tied Fox with the Tuesday finale of Idol into Glee as the most-watched network (pacing within 300k viewers - 15.2 million vs. 15.5 million) on the final Tuesday of the TV Season. ABC considerably narrowed the gap with Fox from the comparable year-ago night (900k on 5/19/09). Also on the night, ABC outdrew CBS with its drama finales by 2.0 million viewers (13.2 million) and NBC with The Biggest Loser and Parenthood finales by 6.6 million viewers (8.6 million).

· ABC generated its most-watched Tuesday in 6 months � since 11/24/09.

In its 10th-season finale from 9-11pm , ABC's Dancing with the Stars the Results Show produced season-high numbers on the night in both Total Viewers (18.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.8/13). The Dancing finale dominated all 4 of its half-hours in Total Viewers to stand as the second-most-watched TV program of the night to American Idol. In fact DWTS the Results Show finale posted its most-competitive finish ever to the Tuesday finale of Idol, running within 1.4 million viewers and shrinking the gap year to year by 2.1 million viewers.

· Soaring during its second hour from 10-11pm, DWTS outdrew its combined network competition, original drama finales on CBS (The Good Wife) and NBC (Parenthood), by 2.4 million viewers (19.0 million vs. 16.6 million) and topped second-place NBC by 62% in Adults 18-49 (4.2/12 vs. 2.6/7). Singer, songwriter, actress and the lead singer of "The Pussycat Dolls," Nicole Scherzinger won the coveted Mirror Ball trophy.

· The Dancing with the Stars finale produced ABC's second-biggest audience in the 2-hour time period this season, while generating highest Adult 18-49 number in nearly 4 months (since 2/2/10).

Quick Take for Tuesday, May 25, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"Dancing" Finale Produces ABC's Most-Watched Tuesday in 6 Months

Dominating its 2-Hour Time Slot with Viewers, "DWTS the Results Show" Closer Posts its Most Competitive Finish Ever to the Tuesday Finale of "American Idol"

"DWTS the Results Show" Generates ABC's Second-Biggest Audience in the Time Period This Season and its Highest Adult 18-49 Number in 4 Months

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

With the 10th-season closer of "Dancing," ABC nearly tied Fox with its Tuesday finale of "Idol" into "Glee" as the most-watched network (pacing within 300k viewers - 15.2 million vs. 15.5 million) on the final Tuesday of the TV Season. ABC considerably narrowed the gap with Fox from the comparable year-ago season-finale Tuesday (900k on 5/19/09). Also on the night, ABC outdrew CBS with its drama finales ("NCIS"/"NCIS: LA"/"The Good Wife") by 2.0 million viewers (13.2 million), and NBC with "The Biggest Loser" and "Parenthood" finales by 6.6 million viewers (8.6 million).

· ABC generated its most-watched Tuesday in 6 months - since 11/24/09.

"DWTS the Results Show" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

In its 10th-season finale from 9:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" produced season-high numbers on the night in both Total Viewers (18.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.8/13). The "Dancing" finale dominated all 4 of its half-hours in Total Viewers to stand as the second-most-watched TV program of the night to "American Idol." In fact "DWTS the Results Show" finale posted its most-competitive finish ever to the finale of "Idol-Tuesday," running within 1.4 million viewers and shrinking the gap year to year by 2.1 million viewers. Singer, songwriter, actress and the lead singer of "The Pussycat Dolls" Nicole Scherzinger won the coveted Mirror Ball trophy.

· Soaring during its second hour from 10:00-11:00 p.m., "DWTS the Results Show" outdrew its combined network competition, original drama finales on CBS ("The Good Wife") and NBC ("Parenthood"), by 2.4 million viewers (19.0 million vs. 16.6 million) and topped second-place NBC by 62% in Adults 18-49 (4.2/12 vs. 2.6/7).

· "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" season ender produced ABC's second-biggest audience in the 2-hour time period this season, while generating its highest Adult 18-49 number in nearly 4 months (since 2/2/10).

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: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 5/25/10.