ABC is #1 on Sunday in Adults 18-49 at a 6-Week High

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

ABC stood as the #1 network on Palm Sunday among Adults 18-49, beating CBS' all-original schedule by 5%, Fox's mix of repeats and originals by 5% and NBC's all-original schedule by 11%. In fact it was ABC's 3rd night in a row to rank #1 in the key young adult sales demo, holding the top spot on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

· Growing week to week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC marked its strongest Sunday with regular programming on the night in 6 weeks - since 3/6/11.

During the 7 o'clock hour, ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos ran a strong #1 in Adults 18-49, beating runner-up CBS' 60 Minutes by 23%.

On its first telecast in 8 weeks, ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition built on its lead-in at 8pm by double-digit percentages among viewers (+17%) and young adults (+19%), finishing as the 2nd-most-watched TV show overall in the hour to CBS' Amazing Race XVII. The broad-appealing ABC unscripted series also delivered the #2 position from 8-9pm in Adults 18-34, key Women (W18-49/W25-54) and Teens 12-17, while making the Net the #1 broadcaster in the hour with Kids 2-11. Also in the hour, ABC's return of Home Edition topped NBC's competing America's Next Great Restaurant by 3.9 million viewers and by 58% in Adults 18-49.

On its first telecast in 2 weeks, Desperate Housewives put ABC into the #1 position during the 9 o'clock hour with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In the hour, Housewives topped CBS original Undercover Boss by an impressive 41% in Adults 18-49.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Brothers & Sisters ranked #2 across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

Quick Take for Sunday, April 17, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Taking the Top Network Position for the 3rd Night Running, ABC Ranks No. 1 on Sunday in Adults 18-49, Hitting a 6-Week High with a Regular Sunday Schedule

ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" Wins its Hour by 23% in Adults 18-49

On its First Airing in 8 Weeks, ABC's "Home Edition" Builds on its Lead-in by Double-Digit Percentages and Finishes as the 2nd Most-Watched TV Show at 8pm

In the 9pm Hour, "Desperate Housewives" Puts ABC into the No. 1 Position, Beating CBS' Original "Undercover Boss" by a Best-Ever 42% with Adults 18-49

ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" Ranks No. 2 in the 10pm Hour Across Key Women Demos

Sunday Night (7:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC stood as the No. 1 network on Palm Sunday among Adults 18-49 (2.0/6), beating CBS' all-original schedule by 5% (1.9/5), Fox's mix of repeats and originals by 5% (1.9/5) and NBC's all-original lineup by 11% (1.8/5). In fact it was ABC's 3rd night in a row to rank No. 1 in the key young adult sales demo, holding the top position on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

· Growing week to week in Total Viewers (7.3 million vs. 7.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 1.9/5), ABC marked its strongest Sunday with regular programming on the evening in 6 weeks - since 3/6/11.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m.)

During the 7 o'clock hour, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" ran a strong No. 1 in Adults 18-49, beating runner-up CBS' "60 Minutes" by 23% (1.6/6 vs. 1.3/5).

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

On its first telecast in 8 weeks, ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" built on its lead-in at 8:00 p.m. by double-digit percentages among viewers (+17%) and young adults (+19%), finishing as the 2nd-most-watched TV show overall (7.6 million) in the hour to CBS' "Amazing Race XVIII." The broad-appealing ABC unscripted series also delivered the No. 2 position from 8:00-9:00 p.m. in Adults 18-34, key Women (W18-49/W25-54) and Teens 12-17, while making the Net the No. 1 broadcaster in the hour with Kids 2-11. Also in the hour, ABC's return of "Home Edition" topped NBC's competing "America's Next Great Restaurant" by 3.9 million viewers (7.6 million vs. 3.7 million) and by 58% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.2/3).

"Desperate Housewives" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

On its first telecast in 2 weeks, "Desperate Housewives" put ABC into the No. 1 position during the 9 o'clock hour with Total Viewers (8.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/7-tie). In the hour, ABC's "Housewives" topped CBS original "Undercover Boss" by an impressive and best-ever 42% in Adults 18-49 (2.7/7 vs. 1.9/5).

"Brothers & Sisters" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" ranked No. 2 across all key Women demos: W18-34 (1.8/5), W18-49 (2.5/6) and W25-54 (3.3/7).

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 Program Ratings), 4/17/11.