ABC Outdraws Fox and NBC on Tuesday/"DWTS" Builds in Key Demos

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

With a Dancing special, DWTS: The Results and Body of Proof, ABC stood as the 2nd-most-watched net on Tuesday night to CBS (NCIS/NCIS: LA/Unforgettable). The Net topped Fox on the night by 2.8 million viewers (Glee/New Girl/Raising Hope) and NBC by 5.2 million viewers (2-hour The Biggest Loser/Parenthood).

From 8-9pm, ABC's DWTS: The Encore Performances finished #2 to CBS' top-rated NCIS in Total Viewers, outdrawing Fox's Glee by 1.0 million viewers and the opening hour of NBC's The Biggest Loser 12 by 3.6 million viewers.

Surging over its lead-in and building audience throughout its broadcast against strong competition, ABC's Dancing with the Stars: The Results registered as the 2nd-most-watched program in the 9 o'clock hour, pacing well ahead of Fox (New Girl/Raising Hope) and NBC (The Biggest Loser). The broad-appealing ABC unscripted series also earned the #2 position in the hour with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54), while pacing #1 against its broadcast rivals with Kids 2-11. ABC's Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis was the second celebrity dancer to leave the dance competition this season.

· The ABC unscripted series once again outdelivered its NBC unscripted competition in the hour by wide margins, outdelivering the second hour of The Biggest Loser by 8.2 million viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49.

· DWTS: The Results retained 100% week-earlier premiere Adult 18-49 audience (even with its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating).

ABC's Body of Proof ran a solid second overall in the 10 o'clock hour, topping NBC's Parenthood by 3.9 million viewers. The sophomore ABC drama also ranked #2 in its time slot with Adults 25-54 for the 2nd week running.

· Exhibiting much stronger lead-in retention for ABC in the hour year to year with viewers and young adults, Body of Proof improved its time period over the same night last year in Total Viewers (+8%) and across all key Women: W18-34 (+13%), W18-49 (+8%) and W25-54 (+9%).

Quick Take for Tuesday, September 27, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Leading Fox and NBC by Wide Margins, ABC is Tuesday's 2nd-Most-Watched Net

ABC's "DWTS: The Results" Easily Outdraws its NBC Unscripted Competition and Fox's Comedies in the 9 O'clock Hour

ABC's "Body of Proof" Draws a Larger Overall Audience Than NBC's "Parenthood" for the 2nd Week Running

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

With a "Dancing" special, "DWTS: The Results" and "Body of Proof," ABC (10.9 million) stood as the 2nd-most-watched net on Tuesday night to CBS ("NCIS"/"NCIS: LA"/"Unforgettable"). The Net topped Fox on the night by 2.8 million viewers ("Glee"/"New Girl"/"Raising Hope" = 8.1 million) and NBC by 5.2 million viewers (2-hour "The Biggest Loser 12"/"Parenthood" = 5.7 million).

"DWTS: The Encore Performance" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's "DWTS: The Encore Performance" (9.3 million) finished No. 2 to CBS' top-rated "NCIS" in Total Viewers, outdrawing Fox's "Glee" by 1.0 million viewers (8.3 million) and the opening hour of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" by 3.6 million viewers (5.7 million).

"Dancing with the Stars: The Results" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Surging over its lead-in and building audience throughout its broadcast against strong competition, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars: The Results" (14.0 million) registered as the 2nd-most-watched program in the 9 o'clock hour, pacing well ahead of Fox ("New Girl"/"Raising Hope" = 7.8 million) and NBC ("The Biggest Loser" = 5.8 million). The broad-appealing ABC unscripted series also earned the No. 2 position in the hour with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54), while pacing No. 1 against its broadcast rivals with Kids 2-11 (tie). Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis was the second celebrity dancer to leave the dance competition this season.

· The ABC unscripted series once again outdelivered its NBC unscripted competition in the hour by wide margins, outdelivering the second hour of "The Biggest Loser" by 8.2 million viewers (14.0 million vs. 5.8 million) and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7 vs. 2.3/6).

· "DWTS: The Results" retained 100% of its week-earlier premiere among Adult 18-49 (even with its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating).

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

ABC's "Body of Proof" ran a solid second overall in the 10 o'clock hour, topping NBC's "Parenthood" by 3.9 million viewers (9.4 million vs. 5.5 million). The sophomore ABC drama also ranked No. 2 in its time slot with Adults 25-54 (2.7/6) for the 2nd week running.

· Exhibiting much stronger lead-in retention for ABC in the hour year to year with viewers and young adults, "Body of Proof" improved its time period over the same night last year (9/28/10) in Total Viewers (+8%) and across all key Women: W18-34 (+13%), W18-49 (+8%) and W25-54 (+9%).

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 42% currently, from 38% 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), 9/27/11.