ABC's "Private Practice" is Up from its Tuesday Premiere and Tops its Season Finale

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

With DWTS: All-Stars The Results Show and Private Practice, ABC qualified as the 2nd-most-watched TV network on season-premiere Tuesday to CBS (NCIS/NCIS: LA/Vegas). ABC outdrew NBC by 2.5 million viewers (The Voice/Go On/New Normal/Parenthood) and doubled Fox's comedy premieres on the night (+102% ahead of New Girl/Ben and Kate/New Girl/The Mindy Project).

Gaining audience during each half-hour of its 2-hour telecast opposite big competition, ABC's DWTS: All-Stars The Results Show finished #2 among Viewers in its 8-10pm time period, outdrawing NBC and Fox by wide margins. Building throughout its broadcast, The Results Show ranked #2 in its final half-hour from 9:30-10pm with Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54. Actress Pamela Anderson was the first celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition this season.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's season premiere of Private Practice beat out NBC's Parenthood by 1.8 million viewers, by 6% in Adults 18-49 and by 9% in Adults 25-54. The ABC drama ranked #1 in the hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· ABC's Private Practice was up over its April premiere in its Tuesday time period across all key Adults: A18-34 (+18%), A18-49 (+12%) and A25-54 (+4%). In addition, Private Practice topped its season finale in May (5/15/12) by 6% in Adults 18-49 and by 30% in Adults 18-34.

Quick Take for Tuesday, September 25, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Finishes as the 2nd-Most-Watched Network on Season Premiere Tuesday

Building Throughout, ABC's "DWTS: All-Stars - The Results Show" Outdraws NBC And Fox by Wide Margins from 8-10pm and Moves Up to No. 2 at 9:30 in Key Adults

ABC's "Private Practice" is Up from its Tuesday Premiere and Tops its Season Finale

Tuesday Night (8:00-11:00)

With "DWTS: All-Stars -- The Results Show" and "Private Practice," ABC (9.9 million) qualified as the 2nd-most-watched TV network on season premiere Tuesday to CBS ("NCIS"/"NCIS: LA"/"Vegas"). ABC outdrew NBC by 2.5 million viewers ("The Voice"/"Go On"/"New Normal"/"Parenthood" = 7.4 million) and more than doubled Fox's comedy premieres on the night (+102% ahead of "New Girl"/"Ben and Kate"/"New Girl"/"The Mindy Project" = 4.9 million).

"DWTS: All-Stars -- The Results Show" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

Gaining audience during each half-hour of its 2-hour telecast opposite big competition, ABC's "DWTS: All-Stars -- The Results Show" (11.6 million) finished No. 2 among Viewers in its 8:00-10:00 p.m. time period, outdrawing by wide margins both NBC (+32% - 8.8 million) and Fox (+137% - 4.9 million). Building throughout its broadcast, "The Results Show" ranked No. 2 in its final half-hour (9:30-10:00 p.m.) in Adults 18-49 (2.5/7) and Adults 25-54 (3.4/8). Actress Pamela Anderson was the first celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition this season.

"Private Practice" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's 6th season premiere of "Private Practice" beat out NBC's "Parenthood" by 1.8 million viewers (6.6 million vs. 4.8 million), by 6% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.8/5) and by 9% in Adults 25-54 (2.4/6 vs. 2.2/6). The ABC drama ranked No. 1 in the hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· ABC's "Private Practice" was up over its April premiere in its Tuesday time period across all key Adults: A18-34 (+18%), A18-49 (+12%) and A25-54 (+4%). In addition, "Private Practice topped its season finale in May (5/15/12) by 6% in Adults 18-49 and by 30% in Adults 18-34.

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 45% currently, from 42% 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 Program Ratings), 09/25/12.