ABC's Special Edition of "20/20" Surges to #1 at 10pm

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

Surging from its lead-in among viewers (+86%) and young adults (+78%) a Special Edition of 20/20, featuring ABC News' Andrea Canning's interview with Charlie Sheen, drew an average audience of 9.3 million viewers and a 3.2 rating, 9 share among Adults 18-49. Finishing a dominant #1 in the 10 o'clock hour across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54), ABC's 20/20 beat out second-place CBS' The Good Wife in the time period by 45% in Adults 18-49 and by 15% in Adults 25-54.

· 20/20 produced ABC's best results in the time period with a 1-hour program in 2 years among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 - since 3/3/09.

· In Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54), 20/20 generated the biggest numbers for any ABC newsmagazine telecast since February 2009 - since 2/13/09.

· The Special Edition of 20/20 registered as TV's highest-rated newsmagazine telecast (any net) to air without the benefit of a sports lead-in in more than 2 years with Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 - since 2/13/09.

Quick Take for Tuesday, March 1, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Draws its Biggest Tuesday in Over 3 Months in Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34

"V" Equals its 2nd-Best Number of the Season in Adults 18-34 and Hits a Season High in Women 18-34

A Special Edition of ABC's "20/20" Wins Tuesday's 10pm Hour, Beating CBS' "The Good Wife" by 45% in Adults 18-49 and 15% in Adults 25-54

"20/20" Special Sees the Best Numbers for Any ABC Newsmagazine in 2 Years

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

ABC produced its strongest Tuesday in nearly 3 months among Total Viewers (6.2 million) and Adults 25-54 (2.5/6) � since 12/7/10. In Adults 18-49 (2.1/6) and Adults 18-34 (1.4/4), the Net marked its biggest Wednesday in 14 weeks � since 11/23/10.

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

ABC's "V" matched its 2nd-best number of the season in Adults 18-34 (1.3/4), while hitting a season high in Women 18-34 (1.4/4). In addition, the show built on its "No Ordinary Family" lead-in by best-ever margins on both Nielsen measures.

· Opposite stiff time period competition from a special Tuesday airing of Fox's "American Idol," CBS' top-rated "NCIS: Los Angeles" and the second hour of NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Couples," "V" gained 13% in viewers (4.7 million to 5.3 million) and 12% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 to 1.9/5) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

"20/20-SP" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Surging from its lead-in among viewers (+86%) and young adults (+78%), a Special Edition of "20/20," featuring ABC News' Andrea Canning's interview with Charlie Sheen, drew an average audience of 9.3 million viewers and a 3.2 rating, 9 share among Adults 18-49. Finishing a dominant No. 1 in the 10 o'clock hour across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54), ABC's "20/20" beat out second-place CBS' "The Good Wife" in the time period by 45% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/9 vs. 2.2/6) and by 15% in Adults 25-54 (3.9/10 vs. 3.4/9).

· "20/20" produced ABC's best results in the time period with a 1-hour program in 2 years among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 � since 3/3/09.

· In Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54), "20/20" generated the biggest numbers for any ABC newsmagazine telecast since February 2009 � since 2/13/09.

· The Special Edition of "20/20" registered as TV's highest-rated newsmagazine telecast (any net) to air without the benefit of a sports lead-in in more than 2 years with Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 � since 2/13/09.

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 40% currently, from 36% at the same point in 2010. 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), 3/1/11.