ABC is the Only Net Up on Tuesday Year to Year

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

With its new Tuesday lineup (Last Man Standing/Cougar Town/The River/Body of Proof), ABC grew over the year-ago night for the 2nd week in a row (also an all-original schedule on 2/22/11), surging by double-digit percentages with Total Viewers (+23%) and Adults 18-49 (+13%). In fact, ABC was the only net to post gains over the year-ago night.

· The Network was up week to week by 6% in Adults 18-49.

At 8pm against CBS' NCIS, ABC freshman Last Man Standing drew more viewers than Fox's Glee (+4%) and NBC's The Biggest Loser (+15%).

· ABC self-starter Last Man Standing at 8pm once again outdrew Fox's Glee-led New Girl at 9pm to register as Tuesday's most-watched comedy, leading by 1.3 million viewers.

At 8:30pm, Cougar Town produced big year-to-year improvement for ABC in the half-hour, boosting its slot by 31% in Adults 18-49 over original programming on the same night last year.

· Cougar Town delivered strong retention of its week-earlier season premiere in Total Viewers (94%), Adults 18-49 (94%) and Adults 18-34 (100%), while jumping 11% in Men 18-34.

Up against stiff competition during the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's The River held 100% of its Adult 18-49 and Adult 18-34 audiences week to week and increased its number among Men 18-34 (+11%).

Building by 35% on its lead-in at 10pm, ABC's Body of Proof ran as the 2nd-most-watched TV show overall, topping NBC's Parenthood during the hour by 1.6 million viewers.

· ABC's Body of Proof increased its overall audience by 3% week to week and spiked 17% in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Tuesday, February 21, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Posting Double-Digit Gains, ABC is the Only Net Up on Tuesday Year to Year

Outdrawing Fox's "New Girl," ABC's "Last Man Standing" is Tuesday's Top Comedy

Showing Strong Retention of its Week-Ago Season Opener, ABC's "Cougar Town" Boosts its Slot by 31% in Adults 18-49 Year Over Year

ABC's "The River" Holds All of its Young Adult Audience and Grows in Men 18-34

"Body of Proof" Builds Sharply for ABC at 10pm to Lead NBC's "Parenthood" By 1.6 Million Viewers, and Jumps 17% Week to Week Among Adults 18-49

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

With its new Tuesday lineup ("Last Man Standing"/"Cougar Town"/"The River"/"Body of Proof"), ABC grew over the year-ago night for the 2nd week in a row (also an all-original schedule on 2/22/11), surging by double-digit percentages with Total Viewers (+23% - 5.8 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+13% - 1.7/4 vs. 1.5/4). In fact, ABC was the only net to post gains over the year-ago night in either Nielsen measure.

· The Network was up week to week by 6% in Adults 18-49.

"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

At 8:00 p.m. against CBS' "NCIS," ABC freshman "Last Man Standing" (7.5 million) drew more viewers than Fox's "Glee" (+4% - 7.2 million) and NBC's "The Biggest Loser 13" (+15% - 6.5 million).

· ABC self-starter "Last Man Standing" at 8:00 p.m. once again outdrew Fox's "Glee"-led "New Girl" (6.2 million) at 9:00 p.m. to register as Tuesday's most-watched comedy, leading by 1.3 million viewers.

"Cougar Town" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

At 8:30 p.m., "Cougar Town" produced big year-to-year improvement for ABC in the half-hour, boosting its slot by 31% in Adults 18-49 over original programming on the same night last year (1.7/4 vs. 1.3/4 on 2/22/11).

· "Cougar Town" delivered strong retention of its week-earlier season premiere in Total Viewers (94%), Adults 18-49 (94%) and Adults 18-34 (100%), while jumping 11% in Men 18-34.

"The River" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Up against stiff competition during the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "The River" held 100% of its Adult 18-49 (1.7/4) and Adult 18-34 audiences week to week, and increased its number among Men 18-34 (+11%).

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

Building by 35% on its lead-in at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Body of Proof" ran as the 2nd-most-watched TV show overall, topping NBC's "Parenthood" during the hour by 1.6 million viewers (6.5 million vs. 4.9 million).

· ABC's "Body of Proof" increased its overall audience by 3% week to week and spiked 17% in Adults 18-49.

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 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), 02/21/12.