ABC is Up on Tuesday/"DWTS" Results is the Most-Watched TV Show

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

ABC ran as the 2nd-most-watched net on Tuesday evening to CBS, topping NBC by 4.8 million viewers and Fox by 6.1 million viewers.

· The Net grew its Tuesday numbers week to week by nearly 1 million viewers and by 4% in Adults 18-49.

· Surging over the same night last May (5/11/10) by 3.2 million viewers, ABC built its Tuesday audience year to year for the 8th consecutive week.

Earning second in the 8pm to CBS' first-run NCIS, ABC's Dancing with the Stars Special generated a considerably larger overall audience than originals of Fox's Glee (+2.0 million) and NBC's The Biggest Loser: Couples (+4.8 million).

Up against all-original competition in the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's DWTS Results Show finished a definitive #1, beating its nearest competition by 2.4 million viewers (CBS' NCIS: LA) and by 14% in Adults 18-49 (NBC's Biggest Loser and CBS' NCIS: LA tied). In fact the ABC dancing results program stood as Tuesday's most-watched show overall (besting CBS' top-rated NCIS from 8-9pm), while registering as the top show in its time slot for the 7th week running. Entertainer, actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Romeo was the sixth celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the dance competition this season.

· DWTS Results Show's numbers rose week to week in both viewers (+6%) and young adults (+7%).

· The ABC unscripted series posted big year-over-year gains, jumping by 37% in Viewers and by 28% in Adults 18-49 from the year-ago night. On average, ABC's DWTS Results Show is up by double-digit percentages from the same point a year ago in viewers (+27%) and young adults (+25%).

Opposite NBC's The Voice in the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Body of Proof ranked #2 against its drama competition, beating CBS' The Good Wife among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) .

· Body of Proof delivered solid week-to-to-week gains across a number of key demos: AD18-49 +5%, AD18-34 +30% and W18-34 +21%. In fact the ABC drama equaled its top Adult 18-34 number in 4 weeks - since 4/12/11.

· TV's most-watched new series this season, Body of Proof is improving the hour for ABC in viewers and young adults, over the comparable nights last year. In fact Body of Proof is ABC's most-watched series overall in the hour in 10 years - since the 8th season of NYPD Blue in 2001.

Quick Take for Tuesday, May 10, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Finishes as Tuesday's 2nd-Most-Watched Net, Rising Week to Week And Building Over the Year-Ago Evening for the 8th Consecutive Week

From 8-9pm, ABC's "DWTS Special" Draws in More Viewers than Originals of Fox's "Glee" and NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Couples"

Tuesday's Most-Watched TV Show, ABC's "DWTS Results" is Up Over the Prior Week and Continues to Produce Impressive Year-Over-Year Increases

Growing Week to Week in the 10pm Hour, ABC's Freshman "Body of Proof" Beats Out CBS' Sophomore "The Good Wife" in Young Adults and Key Women

TV's Most-Watched New Series of the 2010-11 Season, "Body of Proof" Qualifies as ABC's Top Series in the Tuesday's 10 O'clock Hour in 10 Years

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

ABC (12.8 million) ran as the 2nd-most-watched net on Tuesday evening to CBS, topping NBC by 4.8 million viewers (8.0 million) and Fox by 6.1 million viewers (6.7 million).

· The Net grew its Tuesday numbers week to week by nearly 1 million viewers (12.8 million vs. 11.9 million) and by 4% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 2.3/6).

· Surging over the same night last May (9.6 million on 5/11/10) by 3.2 million viewers, ABC built its Tuesday audience year to year for the 8th consecutive week.

"Dancing with the Stars SP" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Earning second in the 8:00 p.m. hour to CBS' first-run "NCIS," ABC's "Dancing with the Stars Special" (11.1 million) generated a considerably larger overall audience than originals of Fox's "Glee" (+2.0 million - 9.1 million) and NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (+4.8 million - 6.3 million).

"DWTS Results Show" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Up against all-original competition in the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "DWTS Results Show" finished a definitive No. 1, beating its nearest competition by 2.4 million viewers (17.1 million vs. 14.7 million = CBS' "NCIS: LA") and by 14% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/8 vs. 2.8/8 = NBC's "Biggest Loser" and CBS' "NCIS: LA" tied). In fact the ABC dancing results program stood as Tuesday's most-watched show overall (besting CBS' top-rated "NCIS" from 8:00-9:00 p.m.), while registering as the top show in its time slot for the 7th week running. Entertainer, actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Romeo was the seventh celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the dance competition this season.

· "DWTS Results Show's" numbers rose week to week in both viewers (+6%) and young adults (+7%).

· The ABC unscripted series posted big year-over-year gains, jumping by 37% in Viewers and by 28% in Adults 18-49 from the year-ago night (12.5 million and 2.5/7). On average, ABC's "DWTS Results Show" is up by double-digit percentages from the same point a year ago in viewers (+27%) and young adults (+25%).

"Body of Proof" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Opposite NBC's "The Voice" in the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Body of Proof" ranked No. 2 against its regular competition, beating CBS' "The Good Wife" among Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 2.0/5), Adults 18-34 (1.3/4 vs. 1.1/3) and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) .

· "Body of Proof" delivered solid week-to-to-week gains across a number of key demos: AD18-49 +5%, AD18-34 +30% and W18-34 +21%. In fact the ABC drama equaled its top Adult 18-34 number in 4 weeks - since 4/12/11.

· TV's most-watched new series this season, "Body of Proof" is improving the hour for ABC in viewers and young adults over the comparable nights last year. In fact "Body of Proof" is ABC's most-watched series overall in the hour in 10 years - since the 8th season of "NYPD Blue" in 2001.

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 41% 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), 5/10/11.