Primetime Ratings Report For the week of May 9, 2011 (Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC Claims 6 of the Week's Top 20 TV Shows Among Adults 18-49

Continuing its Nearly 2-Month Long Growth Streak, ABC Builds its Overall Audience from the Year-Ago Week for the 7th Week Running

Gaining Year to Year, ABC Ranks No. 2 During the 2011 May Sweep

ABC Dominates 2nd Straight Monday of May in Viewers and Young Adults

ABC's "DWTS" Stands as Monday's No. 1 TV Show for the 8th Straight Week

Dominating its Time Slot, ABC's "Castle" Draws its Biggest Audience in 1 Year

Topping its Slot for the 7th Week Running, ABC's "DWTS Results" is Up Over The Prior Week and Continues to Produce Impressive Year-Over-Year Increases

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

ABC's "The Middle" Produces its Strongest Numbers Since the Beginning of March

ABC's "Better with You" Season Finale Earns its Top Wednesday Results in 3 Months

TV's No. 1 Comedy and the Top Scripted Show This Season in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Modern Family" Generates its Strongest Performance Since March

"Cougar Town" Hits its Best Young Adult Numbers Since the Start of February

Back-to-Back Episodes of "Happy Endings" Once Again Post Big Year-to-Year Gains

Surging Week to Week and Year to Year, "Wipeout" Pulls its Top Viewer and Adult 18-49 Numbers in 1 Month and its Best Adult 18-34 Rating Since February

ABC's "Private Practice" Produces its Most-Watched Telecast Since March

ABC's "Shark Tank" Surges in its Season Finale, Drawing its 2nd-Largest-Ever Audience in its 2 Seasons Airing on Friday Night ABC Finishes No. 1 Saturday Evening in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd Week in a Row

ABC's "Home Edition" Season Finale Draws its Biggest Audience in 3 Months

The Season Finale of "Desperate Housewives" Scores its Top Results in 2 Months

WEEK No. 34:

During the week of May 9, 2011, ABC finished No. 2 in both Total Viewers (8.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.4/7-tie). It was ABC's 5th straight week to earn the No. 2 position to Fox in Adults 18-49. The Net also took second place for the week in Adults 18-34 (1.8/6), defeating CBS by 20% (1.5/5) and NBC by 38% (1.3/4).

· Continuing its nearly 2-month-long streak of year-to-year gains, ABC built its overall audience from the same week last year for the 7th consecutive Nielsen frame (8.9 million vs. 8.6 million on w/o 5/10/10).

· 2011 May Sweep Update: More than half-way through the 2011 May Sweep (18 of 28 nights), ABC ranks No. 2 in both Total Viewers (8.4 million) and in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7). In addition, ABC has increased its overall audience by 5% from the same point a year ago (8.4 million vs. 8.0 million), while retaining 100% of its Adult 18-49 number (2.3/7).

Rankings: ABC delivered 6 of the week's Top 20 television shows among Adults 18-49, claiming TV's No. 1 scripted series for the 2nd week in a row: "Modern Family" - No. 5 (No. 1 scripted show), "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 6, "DWTS Results Show" - No. 10, "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 15, while "Castle" and "Desperate Housewives" tied at No. 18. In addition, ABC aired 3 of the week's Top 10 most-watched television programs overall, with "DWTS," "DWTS Results Show" and "Castle."

Monday

With "DWTS" and "Castle," ABC dominated its 2nd straight Monday of the May Sweep, more than doubling runner-up CBS in Total Viewers (18.1 million vs. 7.4 million) and beating Fox by 70% in Adults 18-49 (3.9/10 vs. 2.3/6). In fact the Net beat its rivals in all 6 half-hours of the night in viewers and young adults. ABC qualified as Monday's most-watched TV network for the 9th week running and took first place on the evening in Adults 18-49 for the 8th time in 9 weeks.

· For the 2nd Monday in a row, ABC delivered improved year-to-year May Sweep results, gaining 1.6 million viewers and 11% with young adults over the same night last year (16.5 million and 3.5/10 on 5/10/10).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:01 p.m.)

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" topped each of its half-hours in viewers and young adults among its network rivals to rank No. 1 in its time slot for the 8th week running. The ABC dancing performance show once again registered as Monday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers (20.7 million - 8th week in a row) and Adults 18-49 (4.2/12 - 7th time in 8 telecasts).

· "DWTS" grew over the same night last year by 1.5 million viewers and by 2% in Adults 18-49 (19.2 million and 4.1/11).

· On average, Season 12 of "DWTS" is gaining over the same point in Season 11 by 1.1 million viewers (22.2 million vs. 21.1 million) and by 7% in Adults 18-49 (4.9/13 vs. 4.6/11), qualifying as the franchise's most-watched-ever season overall.

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Castle" won the 10 o'clock hour, beating CBS' original "Hawaii Five-0" by its biggest-ever margins in Total Viewers (+3.1 million - 12.6 million vs. 9.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+35% - 3.1/8 vs. 2.3/6), as the ABC drama led in their 4th consecutive head-to-head original matchup. In addition, on both counts "Castle" was the No. 1 TV series in its time period for 6th time in its past 7 first-run broadcasts.

· For its 6th consecutive original airing, ABC's "Castle" stood as Monday's most-watched scripted program. It was also the night's No. 1 scripted series in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd week running, outdelivering Fox's original "House."

· Building over the prior week in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+7%), "Castle" drew its largest audience of the season and turned in its 2nd-best Adults 18-49 performance (tie). In fact, the ABC drama attracted its largest overall audience in over 1 year (since 4/12/10) and 3rd largest audience ever for the series.

· The ABC drama surged from the year-ago night by 1.7 million viewers and 24% in Adults 18-49 (10.9 million and 2.5/7). On average, ABC's "Castle" is enjoying its biggest season ever, building on its performance at the same point last year in both Total Viewers (+7% - 11.2 million vs. 10.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.9/8 vs. 2.8/7).

Tuesday

ABC (13.0 million) ran as the 2nd-most-watched net on Tuesday evening to CBS, topping NBC by 4.9 million viewers (8.1 million) and Fox by 6.3 million viewers (6.7 million).

· The Net grew its Tuesday numbers week to week by 1.1 million viewers (12.8 million vs. 11.9 million) and by 9% 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 3.4 million viewers, ABC built its Tuesday audience year to year for the 8th consecutive week.

"Dancing with the Stars - TUE 8PM" (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" (11.3 million) generated a considerably larger overall audience than originals of Fox's "Glee" (+2.0 million - 9.3 million) and NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (+4.3 million - 7.0 million).

"DWTS Results Show" (9:00-10:01 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 2.8 million viewers (17.5 million vs. 14.7 million = CBS' "NCIS: LA") and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/9 vs. 2.9/8 = NBC's "Biggest Loser"). The ABC dancing results program stood as Tuesday's 2nd-most-watched show overall (nearly tying CBS' top-rated "NCIS" for No. 1), 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 (+9%) and young adults (+13%).

· The ABC unscripted series posted big year-over-year gains, jumping by 40% in Viewers and by 36% 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 (+28%) and young adults (+25%).

"Body of Proof" (10:01-11:00 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 (1.2/4 vs. 1.1/3) and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· "Body of Proof" delivered solid week-to-to-week gains among key demos: AD18-49 +5%, AD18-34 +20% and W18-34 +21%. In fact the ABC drama hit its top Women 18-34 number in 3 weeks - since 4/19/11.

· 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.

Wednesday

Opposite an "Idol"-fueled Fox on Wednesday night, ABC (2.1/7) once again beat out CBS (+24% - 1.7/5) and NBC (+75% - 1.2/4) by wide margins with Adults 18-34.

· Up over the prior week in viewers (+5% - 6.2 million vs. 5.9 million) and young adults (+10% - 2.3/6 vs. 2.1/6), ABC equaled a 13-week Wednesday high among Adults 18-49 - since 2/9/11. The Net also posted its top Adult 18-34 number on the night in more than 3 months (2/9/11).

· Rising over the same night last May Sweep (5/12/10) with viewers and young adults, ABC built its overall Wednesday audience year to year for the 18th time in the last 21 weeks.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

Opposite the first half-hour of Fox's "American Idol" and CBS' "Survivor: Redemption Island" at 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" more than doubled the performance of NBC's "Minute to Win It" among Total Viewers (+1140% - 7.2 million vs. 3.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+175% - 2.2/7 vs. 0.8/3). Additionally in the half-hour, "The Middle" defeated "Survivor" for the 2nd week in a row with Women 18-34, leading the CBS unscripted series by 11% (2.0/7 vs. 1.8/7).

· Up for the 2nd straight week in viewers and young adults, "The Middle" scored its best numbers since the beginning of March - since 3/2/11.

· Season to date, ABC's "The Middle" is TV's 2nd-biggest year-to-year gainer (behind only "Modern Family") among returning broadcast series, jumping by 23% in Total Viewers (8.1 million vs. 6.6 million) over its performance in the 8:30 p.m. half-hour at the same point last season.

"Better with You" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

At 8:30 p.m. opposite the second half-hours of "Idol" and "Survivor," ABC's freshman season finale of "Better with You" overshadowed the second half-hour of NBC's "Minute To Win It" in viewers (+94% - 6.0 million vs. 3.1 million) and young adults (best-ever +122% - 2.0/6 vs. 0.9/3). Like its lead-in, the ABC freshman comedy finished No. 2 series in its time period to "Idol" with Women 18-34 (2.0/6-tie). In addition, "Better with You" exhibited impressive lead-in retention among Adults 18-49 (91%) and Adults 18-34 (94%).

· Delivering its 2nd week of growth and surging week to week by 11% in Viewers (6.0 million vs. 5.4 million) and by 25% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 1.6/5), ABC's "Better with You" produced its highest numbers on the evening in more than 3 months - since 2/9/11.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:31 p.m.)

Surging over its lead-in against the third half-hour of "Idol" at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" was the dominant scripted show in its slot among Adults 18-49, beating runner-up CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 34% (4.3/11 vs. 3.2/8).

· TV's No. 1 comedy this season (also the top-rated scripted show), ABC's "Modern Family" stood as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted show for its 22nd straight first-run airing this season in the key young adult sales demographic.

· Building week to week in viewers (10.2 million vs. 9.9 million) and young adults (4.3/11 vs. 3.9/10), "Modern Family" turned in its strongest results since March - since 3/23/11. In addition, jumping over the prior week by 14% (4.1/12 vs. 3.6/11), the show marked its top Adult 18-34 number since the beginning of February - since 2/9/11.

· Season to date, ABC's "Modern Family" is the fastest-growing TV show on the broadcast nets, up over the same point last year by 27% in Total Viewers (11.8 million vs. 9.3 million) and by 26% in Adults 18-49 (4.8/12 vs. 3.8/10).

"Cougar Town" (9:31-10:00 p.m.)

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's "Cougar Town" ranked as the No. 2 series in its slot among Adults 18-49 (2.3/6-tie), while finishing No. 1 with Women 18-34 (2.8/7).

· Gaining for the 2nd week running, "Cougar Town" posted solid week-to-week gains in Total Viewers (+9%), Adults 18-49 (+5%) and Adults 18-34 (+11%). In fact the show marked its highest young adult numbers (AD18-34/AD18-49) since the start of February - since 2/2/11.

"Happy Endings" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

From 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's back-to-back airings of "Happy Endings" generated enormous year-to-year improvement for ABC in Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour, jumping over original drama programming on the same night last year by 27% in Total Viewers (3.8 million vs. 3.0 million), by 45% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/4 vs. 1.1/3) and by 129% in Adults 18-34 (1.6/5 vs. 0.7/2).

· With "Happy Endings," ABC grew week to week in the hour by 6% in Total Viewers (3.8 million vs. 3.6 million) and by 7% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/4 vs. 1.5/4).

Thursday

Opposite an "Idol"-led Fox, ABC finished second on Thursday night across all key Women demographics: W18-34 (2.8/9), W18-49 (3.4/9) and W25-54 (4.2/10).

· ABC grew its overall Thursday audience week to week (+3% - 7.5 million vs. 7.3 million).

"Wipeout" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Surging over the prior week in the 8 o'clock hour opposite "Idol" and CBS' original comedies ("The Big Bang Theory"/"Rules of Engagement"), ABC's "Wipeout" defeated NBC's comedies ("Community" season finale/"The Office-R") by wide margins in Total Viewers (+2.4 million - 5.4 million vs. 3.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+21% - 1.7/5 vs. 1.4/4). The broad-appealing unscripted series made ABC the No. 2 broadcaster in its slot to Fox among Teens 12-17 (1.3/5-tie) and Kids 2-11 (1.7/6).

· "Wipeout" saw its numbers jump week to week in Total Viewers (+13%), Adults 18-49 (+21%) and Adults 18-34 (+50%). In fact the show drew its biggest audience and top Adult 18-49 number in 1 month, while hitting its highest Adult 18-34 rating since February - since 4/14/11 and 2/24/11, respectively.

· Despite going up against "American Idol" in the hour this year, "Wipeout" was up a sharp 31% in Adults 18-49 over original drama programming on the same night last year ("FlashForward" on 5/13/10 = 1.3/4). On average this season, "Wipeout" is generating sizeable year-over-year improvement for ABC against "Idol," growing the hour by 15% in Total Viewers, by 20% in Adults 18-49 and by 440% in Kids 2-11.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" ranked No. 1 during the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (3.2/9-tie), Adults 25-54 (4.0/9) and across the Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· The ABC drama stood as Thursday's No. 1 scripted series with key Women (W18-49/W25-54).

"Private Practice" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

In the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Private Practice" finished second in viewers (7.3 million) and young adults (2.3/6), while delivering the No. 1 position across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In fact it was the ABC drama's 20th consecutive first-run telecast to register as the No. 1 scripted TV show in the hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· Building its audience for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Private Practice" marked its most-watched telecast since March - since 3/31/11.

Friday

"Shark Tank" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Building week to week in viewers (+11% - 5.0 million vs. 4.5 million) and young adults (+8% - 1.3/5 vs. 1.2/5) on its season finale, ABC's "Shark Tank" earned second place in the 8 o'clock hour on both counts. In addition, the ABC unscripted series ranked No. 1 with Women 18-49 (1.6/6-tie).

· On its season ender, "Shark Tank" registered the series' 2nd-largest-ever audience during its two seasons airing on Friday night.

· On average "Shark Tank" improved its hour year to year for ABC, boosting its time slot by 31% in Total Viewers (5.1 million vs. 3.9 million) and by 8% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/5 vs. 1.3/5) over the same nights last year. Additionally, the ABC unscripted series grew its overall Friday audience from last season by 9% (5.1 million vs. 4.7 million).

Saturday

With the rebroadcast of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," ABC ran as the No. 1 network on Saturday night in Adults 18-49 (1.4/5), beating Fox by 17% (1.2/4), CBS by 40% (1.0/3) and NBC by 56% (0.9/3). It was ABC's 2nd straight win on the night in young adults.

· Airing from 8:00-11:00 p.m., "At World's End" stood as Saturday's No. 1 TV program in Adults 18-49 (tie), Adults 18-34 (1.2/5) and key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

Sunday

Up against stiff May Sweep competition including CBS' 3-hour "Survivor" finale coverage, ABC earned second place against its broadcast competition on Sunday in Total Viewers (9.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/7), while finishing No. 1 with Women 18-34 (2.3/7).

· In viewers and young adults, ABC marked its strongest Sunday in more than 2 months - since 3/6/11.

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

Growing 6% week to week in the 7 o'clock hour (1.8/6 vs. 1.7/6), ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" registered as the No. 1 show in its slot among Adults 18-49.

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

Building over its lead-in at 8pm against the opening hour of CBS' "Survivor: Redemption Island" season finale, ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" ran as the 2nd-most-watched TV series in its hour. In addition, the ABC unscripted series topped NBC's "Minute to Win It" in the time period by 5.2 million viewers (8.6 million vs. 3.4 million) and by 144% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 0.9/2).

· On its season finale, ABC's "Home Edition" produced its biggest overall audience since February and its top Women 18-34 (1.9/6) number since January - since 2/20/11 and 1/30/11, respectively.

"Desperate Housewives" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's 2-hour season finale of "Desperate Housewives" ran as the No. 2 series to CBS' "Survivor" in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, beating NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" in head-to-head competition by 3.5 million viewers (10.3million vs. 6.8 million) and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (3.1/7 vs. 2.5/6). "Housewives" dominated its 9:00-11:00 p.m. time period by 38% in Women 18-34 over its nearest competitor (3.3/9 vs. 2.4/7 - CBS), to rank as the No. 1 TV series of the night. In addition, "Desperate Housewives" stood as Sunday's most-watched scripted program for the 3rd week in a row.

· Despite facing the "Survivor" closer, "Desperate Housewives produced its strongest performance since March in Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Women 18-34 - since 3/6/11.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "Desperate Housewives" produced ABC's strongest performance in the time period with regular programming in over 4 months - since 1/9/11.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings), week of 5/9/11, unless stated otherwise.