ABC's "Once Upon a Time" More than Doubles its Lead-in to Beat "Amazing Race"

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

During the 7 o'clock hour opposite Fox's monster NFL overrun (NY Giants -Green Bay Packers), ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos gathered audience throughout its broadcast, surging from its first half-hour to its second half-hour with viewers (+25%) and young adults (+33%). ABC's broad-skewing video-clip show ran as the #1 non-sports program in its slot with Women 18-34 and as the top entertainment broadcast program with Teens and Kids 2-11.

· America's Funniest Home Videos hit a 10-month high with Teens 12-17.

Airing opposite sports-driven competition during the 8 o'clock hour from Sunday Night Football game (Detroit Lions-New Orleans Saints) on NBC and Fox's NFL overrun-fueled programming, ABC freshman drama Once Upon a Time built sharply on its lead-in at 8pm (+3.6 million viewers/+121% in AD18-49) to beat out the season's penultimate episode of CBS' Amazing Race XIX by double digits in Adults 18-49 (+14%) and earned the #1 position across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In fact, the wide-appealing Disney-owned drama registered as Sunday's #1 entertainment program with key Women (W18-34/W18-49) for the series' 6th time in as many telecasts.

· TV's #1 new drama with young adults, Once Upon a Time continued to produce substantial year-over-year gains for ABC, improving over original programming on the year-ago night by 17% in Total Viewers and by 41% in Adults 18-49.

Returning after being preempted on each of the past two weeks, ABC's Desperate Housewives dominated its drama competition in the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS' The Good Wife by 37% (beating CBS in the hour for the 9th time in as many telecasts). In addition, Housewives made ABC the #1 non-sports network in the slot with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Pan Am continued to beat out its CBS drama competition among young women, leading CSI: Miami with Women 18-34 (+7%).

Quick Take for Sunday, December 4, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" Hits a 10-Month High with Teens 12-17

TV's No. 1 Freshman Drama, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" More than Doubles Its Lead-in to Beat the Penultimate Episode of "Amazing Race" in Adults 18-49

Coming Off a 2-Week Preemption, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" Returns as the Dominant Drama in its Slot in Young Adults, Beating CBS' "The Good Wife" by 37%

"Pan Am" Leads its CBS Drama Competition in the 10pm Hour with Women 18-34

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

During the 7 o'clock hour opposite Fox's monster NFL overrun (NY Giants -Green Bay Packers), ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" gathered audience throughout its broadcast, surging from its first half-hour to its second half-hour with viewers (+25% - 5.3 million to 6.6 million) and young adults (+33% - 1.2/3 to 1.6/4). ABC's broad-skewing video-clip show ran as the No. 1 non-sports program in its slot with Women 18-34 and as the top entertainment broadcast program with Teens12-17 and Kids 2-11.

· "America's Funniest Home Videos" achieved a 10-month high with Teens 12-17.

"Once Upon a Time" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Airing opposite sports-driven competition during the 8 o'clock hour from "Sunday Night Football" (Detroit Lions-New Orleans Saints) on NBC and Fox's NFL overrun-fueled programming, ABC freshman drama "Once Upon a Time" built sharply on its lead-in at 8:00 p.m. (+3.6 million viewers/+121% in AD18-49) to beat out the season's penultimate episode of CBS' "Amazing Race XIX" by double digits in Adults 18-49 (+14% - 3.1/7 vs. 2.7/6) and earned the No. 1 position across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In fact, the wide-appealing Disney-owned drama registered as Sunday's No. 1 entertainment program with key Women (W18-34/W18-49) for the series' 6th time in as many telecasts.

· TV's No. 1 new drama with young adults, "Once Upon a Time" continued to produce substantial year-over-year gains for ABC, improving over original programming ("Home Edition") on the year-ago night by 17% in Total Viewers (9.6 million vs. 8.2 million) and by 41% in Adults 18-49 (3.1/7 vs. 2.2/6).

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

Returning after being preempted on each of the past two weeks, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" (2.6/6) dominated its drama competition in the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS' "The Good Wife" (1.9/4) by 37% (beating CBS in the hour for the 9th time in as many telecasts). In addition, "Housewives" made ABC the No. 1 non-sports network in the slot with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

"Pan Am" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Pan Am" continued to beat out its CBS drama competition among young women, leading "CSI: Miami" with Women 18-34 (+7% - 1.6/4 vs. 1.5/4).

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 43% 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), 12/04/11.