ABC's "The Bachelor" Opens with Strong Results in Key Demos

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

On the New Year's holiday Monday with the season opener of The Bachelor and a special preview of Celebrity Wife Swap, ABC earned a solid second place to CBS' original lineup, beating out NBC's original schedule by wide margins with Total Viewers (+41%) and Adults 18-49 (+41%). ABC finished #1 on the night among Women 18-34.

ABC's season opener of The Bachelor from 8-10pm ranked a competitive #2 to CBS' first-run comedy block in viewers and young adults. The Bachelor took full control of NBC's unscripted programming (Who's Still Standing?/Fear Factor) during the 2-hour time period, leading by 2.0 million viewers and by 26% in Adults 18-49. The Bachelor ranked #1 in its slot among its core audience of Women 18-34.

· The veteran ABC unscripted series gained audience from its first hour to its second hour, beating NBC's Fear Factor during the 9pm hour in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, The Bachelor generated ABC's strongest performance in the 2-hour time period in 6 weeks - since 11/21/11. Additionally, the show posted the Net's best Women 18-34 number in the slot since mid-October, representing its 2nd-highest number since season-premiere Monday - since 10/17/11 and 9/19/11, respectively.

Holding 100% of its Adult 18-49 lead-in during the 10 o'clock hour, a preview airing of ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap the night before its debut earned a solid second place to CBS' original Hawaii Five-0, dominating NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams with viewers (+66%) and young adults (+100%). In fact the new ABC series won the hour, beating time period veteran Hawaii Five-0 among Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. Please Note: ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap debuts in its regular time period tonight from 9-10pm.

· In addition to retaining all of its Adult 18-49 lead-in, Celebrity Wife Swap built on its lead-in across all key Men demos (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

· The Celebrity Wife Swap preview produced ABC's top Adult 18-34 and Women 18-34 numbers in the hour since September - since 9/26/11 and 9/19/11. In addition, the show improved its time period year to year with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

Quick Take for Monday, January 2, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Tops NBC on Monday by 41% in Both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

Hitting ABC's Best Time-Slot Results in 6 Weeks in Viewers and Young Adults, "The Bachelor" Season Premiere Leads its Time Slot in its Core Women 18-34 Demo

Preview Airing of ABC's "Celebrity Wife Swap" Dominates NBC's "Rock Center" At 10pm by 66% in Total Viewers and 100% in Adults 18-49

"Celebrity Wife Swap" Leads its Hour in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, With the Net's Best Performance in the Time Period Since September

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

On the New Year's holiday Monday with the season opener of "The Bachelor" and a special preview of "Celebrity Wife Swap," ABC earned a solid second place to CBS' original lineup, beating out NBC's original schedule by wide margins with Total Viewers (+41% - 7.2 million vs. 5.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (+41% - 2.4/6 vs. 1.7/4). ABC finished No. 1 on the night among Women 18-34 (2.8/7).

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's season opener of "The Bachelor" from 8:00-10:00 p.m. ranked a competitive No. 2 to CBS' first-run comedy block in viewers and young adults. "The Bachelor" took full control of NBC's unscripted programming ("Who's Still Standing?"/"Fear Factor") during the 2-hour time period, leading by 2.0 million viewers (7.7 million vs. 5.7 million) and by 26% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/6 vs. 1.9/4). The Bachelor ranked No. 1 in its slot among its core audience of Women 18-34 (3.1/6).

· The veteran ABC unscripted series gained audience from its first hour to its second hour, beating NBC's "Fear Factor" during the 9:00 p.m. hour in both Total Viewers (7.9 million vs. 5.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/6 vs. 2.4/6).

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "The Bachelor" generated ABC's strongest performance in the 2-hour time period in 6 weeks - since 11/21/11. Additionally, the show posted the Net's best Women 18-34 number in the slot since mid-October, representing its 2nd-highest number since season-premiere Monday - since 10/17/11 and 9/19/11, respectively.

"Celebrity Wife Swap" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Holding 100% of its Adult 18-49 lead-in during the 10 o'clock hour, a preview airing of ABC's "Celebrity Wife Swap" the night before its debut earned a solid second place to CBS' original "Hawaii Five-0," dominating NBC's "Rock Center with Brian Williams" in viewers (+66% - 6.3 million vs. 3.8 million) and young adults (+100% - 2.4/6 vs. 1.2/3). In fact the new ABC series won the hour, beating time period veteran "Hawaii Five-0" among Adults 18-34 (1.7/5) and Women 18-34 (2.4/6). Please Note: ABC's "Celebrity Wife Swap" debuts in its regular time period tonight (Tuesday, 1/3/12) from 9:00-10:00 p.m.

· In addition to retaining all of its Adult 18-49 lead-in, "Celebrity Wife Swap" built on its lead-in across all key Men demos (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

· The "Celebrity Wife Swap" preview produced ABC's top Adult 18-34 and Women 18-34 numbers in the hour since September - since 9/26/11 and 9/19/11. In addition, the show improved its time period year to year with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

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), 1/2/12.