ABC Wins Sunday by Double Digits/"Once Upon a Time" is the #1 TV Show

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

ABC won Sunday night by double-digit margins in Adults 18-49, outdelivering Fox by 16%, CBS by 38% and NBC 57%. The Net also ranked #1 on the night with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women demos.

· Surging week to week by 16%, ABC equaled a 7-week high in the key young adult sales demo - since 3/11/12.

ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos led the 7 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, besting Fox's animated comedies by 8%, CBS' 60 Minutes by 17% and NBC's Dateline by 75%.

· ABC's AFHV generated its most-watched telecast in 2 months - since 3/4/12.

At 8pm, ABC freshman drama Once Upon a Time soared to the top of its hour in viewers and young adults, taking first-place in its time slot for its 8th straight first-run telecast in Adults 18-49. Dominating with young adults from 8-9pm, Once Upon a Time beat out the season's penultimate episode of CBS' Amazing Race XX by 32%, Fox's animated comedies (The Simpsons/Bob's Burgers) by 38% and more than tripled the delivery of NBC's Harry's Law (+222%). TV's #1 new drama for the 2011-12 season, ABC's Once Upon a Time stood as Sunday's top-rated program for the 2nd week in a row with Adults 18-49.

· Once Upon a Time boosted its hour for ABC year to year by 11% in Total Viewers and by 26% in Adults 18-49 over first-run programming on the year-ago night.

· Once Upon a Time retained all of its week-ago "Fast Affiliate" Adult 18-49 number and equaled its biggest overall audience in 7 weeks - 3/11/12. The Disney-owned drama was up week to week with Women 18-49 (+3%), Women 18-34 (+3%), Teens 12-17 (+6%) and Kids 2-11 (+14%), matching its highest number with kids in 3 months - since 1/29/12.

On its first telecast in 4 weeks, ABC's Desperate Housewives returned to win the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, towering over the season finale of CBS' The Good Wife (+47%) and the opening hour of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice (+47%).

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's GCB took full control of its freshman drama competition, defeating CBS' NYC 22 by 58% in Adults 18-49 and by 28% in Adults 25-54. In addition, the new ABC drama delivered the #1 position in the hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· After being pre-empted the prior week, GCB shot up over its last telecast by 1.3 million viewers and by 27% in Adults 18-49, marking its best results in 5 weeks - since 3/25/12.

· GCB continued to improve its time period over last season, topped original drama programming (Brothers & Sisters) on the same night last year by 19% in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Sunday, April 29, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Wins Sunday Night by Double Digits with a 7-Week High in Adults 18-49

ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" Draws its Biggest Audience in 2 Months

TV's No. 1 Freshman Drama for the 2011-12 Season, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" Dominates the 8pm Hour to Finish as Sunday's Top-Rated TV Show in Adults 18-49

"Desperate Housewives" Returns After 4 Weeks to Win the 9pm Hour in Adults 18-49

ABC's "GCB" Dominates its Freshman Drama Competition in the 10pm Hour, Spiking 27% Over its Last Telecast and Growing its Slot by 19% Year to Year in Adults 18-49

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

ABC (2.2/6) won Sunday night by double-digit margins in Adults 18-49, outdelivering Fox by 16% (1.9/5), CBS by 38% (1.6/4) and NBC by 57% (1.4/4). The Net also ranked No. 1 on the night with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women demos.

· Surging week to week by 16%, ABC equaled a 7-week high in the key young adult sales demo - since 3/11/12.

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

ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" (1.4/5) led the 7 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, besting Fox's animated comedies by 8% (1.3/4), CBS' "60 Minutes" by 17% (1.2/4) and NBC's "Dateline" by 75% (0.8/3).

· ABC's "AFHV" (6.7 million) generated its most-watched telecast in 2 months - since 3/4/12.

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC freshman drama "Once Upon a Time" soared to the top of its hour in viewers (9.1 million) and young adults (2.9/8), taking first place in its time slot for its 8th straight first-run telecast in Adults 18-49. Dominating with young adults from 8:00-9:00 p.m., "Once Upon a Time" (2.9/8) beat out the season's penultimate episode of CBS' "Amazing Race XX" by 32% (2.2/6), Fox's animated comedies ("The Simpsons"/"Bob's Burgers") by 38% (2.1/6), and more than tripled the delivery of NBC's "Harry's Law" (+222% - 0.9/2). TV's No. 1 new drama for the 2011-12 season, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" stood as Sunday's top-rated program for the 2nd week in a row with Adults 18-49.

· "Once Upon a Time" boosted its hour for ABC year to year by 11% in Total Viewers and by 26% in Adults 18-49 over first-run programming on the year-ago night ("Home Edition" on 5/1/11) = 8.2 million and 2.3/6).

· "Once Upon a Time" retained all of its week-ago "Fast Affiliate" Adult 18-49 number and equaled its biggest overall audience in 7 weeks - since 3/11/12. The Disney-owned drama rose week to week with Women 18-49 (+3%), Women 18-34 (+3%), Teens 12-17 (+6%) and Kids 2-11 (+14%), matching its highest number with kids in 3 months - since 1/29/12.

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

On its first telecast in 4 weeks, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" (2.5/6) returned to win the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, towering over the season finale of CBS' "The Good Wife" (+47% - 1.7/4) and the opening hour of NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" (+47% - 1.7/4).

"GCB" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "GCB" took full control of its freshman drama competition, defeating CBS' "NYC 22" by 58% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.2/3) and by 28% in Adults 25-54 (2.3/6 vs. 1.8/4). In addition, the new ABC drama delivered the No. 1 position in the hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· After being pre-empted the prior week, "GCB" shot up over its last telecast by 1.3 million viewers (5.7 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 27% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.5/4), marking its best results in 5 weeks - since 3/25/12.

· "GCB" continued to improve its time period over last season, topping original drama programming ("Brothers & Sisters" on 5/1/11 = 1.6/4) on the same night last year by 19% 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 44% currently, from 41% 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), 04/29/12.