ABC's "Once Upon A Time" Boosts the Net's Numbers Against the Grammys

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

ABC earned second place on Sunday to CBS with its Grammy Awards telecast in viewers and young adults, leading by wide margins over NBC (+21%/+27%) and Fox (+78%/+12%).

During the 7 o'clock hour, ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos grew over its last original in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+5%) to achieve season-highs. In fact the ABC video-clip show drew its biggest audience in nearly 1 year and hit its highest Adult 18-49 number since last January - since 3/6/11 and 1/30/11, respectively.

On its return to original against the opening of one of the biggest-ever Grammy Awards, ABC's Once Upon a Time surged over its lead-in (+10% in viewers/+50% in young adults) to stand as Sunday's #1 TV series in viewers and young adults. During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's Once Upon a Time paced well ahead of its nearest non-Grammy competition, outdrawing NBC's Dateline by 3.4 million viewers and Fox's animated comedies by 58% in Adults 18-49 (The Simpsons/Napoleon Dynamite).

· Greatly improving ABC's performance year to year against the Grammys in Total Viewers (+34%) and Adults 18-49 (+88%), Once Upon a Time scored the Net's top numbers in the hour opposite the annual music awards show in 3 years - since 2/8/09.

Finishing as the most-watched TV series in the 9pm hour, ABC's Desperate Housewives outdrew Fox's comedies (Family Guy/American Dad) by 2.0 million viewers and NBC's Fear Factor by 3.0 million viewers.

Quick Take for Sunday, February 12, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Hitting Season-Highs, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" Draws its Biggest Audience in Nearly 1 Year and Pulls its Top Adult 18-49 Number Since Last January

Sunday's No. 1 TV Series Among Adults 18-49, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" Scores 3-Year Highs for the Net in the Time Slot Against the "Grammy Awards"

ABC's "Desperate Housewives" is the Most-Watched TV Series in the 9pm Hour

Sunday Night (7:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC earned second place on Sunday to CBS with its "Grammy Awards" telecast in viewers (6.4 million) and young adults (1.9/4), leading by wide margins over NBC (+21%/+27% = 5.3 million and 1.5/4) and Fox (+78%/+12% = 3.6 million and 1.7/4).

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

During the 7 o'clock hour, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.8 million and 2.0/5) grew over its last original in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+5%) to achieve season highs. In fact the ABC video-clip show drew its biggest audience in nearly 1 year and hit its highest Adult 18-49 number since last January - since 3/6/11 and 1/30/11, respectively.

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

On its return to original against the opening of one of the biggest-ever "Grammy Awards," ABC's "Once Upon a Time" surged over its lead-in (+10% in viewers/+50% in young adults) to stand as Sunday's No. 1 TV series among Adults 18-49. During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" (8.6 million and 3.0/7) paced well ahead of its nearest non-"Grammy" competition, outdrawing NBC's "Dateline" (5.2 million) by 3.4 million viewers and Fox's animated comedies by 58% in Adults 18-49 ("The Simpsons"/"Napoleon Dynamite" = 1.9/4).

· Greatly improving ABC's performance year to year against the "Grammys" ("Home Edition" on 2/13/11 = 6.4 million and 1.6/4) in Total Viewers (+34%) and Adults 18-49 (+88%), "Once Upon a Time" scored the Net's top numbers in the hour opposite the annual music awards show in 3 years - since 2/8/09.

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

Finishing as the most-watched TV series in the 9:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" (6.3 million) outdrew Fox's comedies ("Family Guy"/"American Dad" = 4.3 million) by 2.0 million viewers and NBC's "Fear Factor" (3.3 million) by 3.0 million viewers.

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 39% at the same point in 2011. 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), 02/12/12.