ABC's "Cougar Town" Surges to its Top Audience since its Season Premiere

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

At 8pm, ABC's Last Man Standing dominated its comedy competition on Fox, leading Raising Hope by 3.2 million viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49. In fact, ABC self-starter Last Man Standing finished as Tuesday's most-watched comedy overall, attracting nearly 2 million more viewers than Fox's New Girl at 9pm.

· Continuing to improve its time slot year over year, Last Man Standing boosted the half-hour for ABC by 1.5 million viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49 over original programming on the year-ago night.

In the 8:30pm half-hour like its lead-in, ABC's Cougar Town towered over Fox's competing comedy, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, by 53% in Total Viewers and by 33% in Adults 18-49.

· Cougar Town grew by double-digits week to week in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), generating its biggest audience since its season premiere 5 weeks ago - since 2/14/12.

During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's season finale of The River was up week to week by 8% in Adults 18-49, by 18% in Women 18-34 and by 13% in Women 18-49.

Quick Take for Tuesday, March 20, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Posting Strong Year-to-Year Gains in its Slot for ABC, "Last Man Standing" Dominates Fox's "Raising Hope" at 8pm and Finishes as Tuesday's Most-Watched Comedy

Taking Full Control of its Fox Comedy Competition, ABC's "Cougar Town" Surges by Double Digits to Draw its Biggest Audience Since its Season Premiere

Season Finale of "The River" Grows Week to Week in Adults 18-49 and Key Women

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Last Man Standing" dominated its comedy competition on Fox, leading "Raising Hope" by 3.2 million viewers (7.0 million vs. 3.8 million) and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 vs. 1.6/5). In fact, ABC self-starter "Last Man Standing" finished as Tuesday's most-watched comedy overall, attracting nearly 2 million more viewers than Fox's "New Girl" at 9:00 p.m. (5.1 million).

· Continuing to improve its time slot year over year, "Last Man Standing" boosted the half-hour for ABC by 1.5 million viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49 over original programming on the year-ago night ("No Ordinary Family" on 3/22/11 = 5.5 million and 1.6/5).

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

In the 8:30 p.m. half-hour, like its lead-in, ABC's "Cougar Town" towered over Fox's competing comedy, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter," by 53% in Total Viewers (4.6 million vs. 3.0 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5 vs. 1.2/4).

· "Cougar Town" grew by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), generating its biggest audience since its season premiere 5 weeks ago - since 2/14/12.

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

During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's season finale of "The River" was up week to week by 8% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.3/4), by 18% in Women 18-34 (1.3/4 vs. 1.1/3) and by 13% in Women 18-49 (1.7/4 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 40% 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), 03/20/12.