ABC's Sunday Dramas Grow Across the Board

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

Despite another Sunday of big sports competition from NBC's Sunday Night Football contest (Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals) and an NFL-fueled CBS from a monster Jets-Patriots overrun into the first hour of prime, as well as Fox with MLB Playoffs (National League Championship Game 6), ABC built its numbers week to week in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%). ABC beat out Fox's MLB post-season baseball coverage on the night in both viewers and young adults.

Catapulting over its lead-in by 154% in Adults 18-49 and building from start to finish, ABC's Once Upon a Time registered as Sunday's #1 scripted broadcast series for the 4th week running. From 8-9pm, Once Upon a Time ranked #1 in its hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) and was the top-rated broadcast with Teens 12-17 (tying Sunday Night Football). Season to date based on L+7 ratings, Once Upon a Time spikes by 3.0 million viewers and by 1.3 Adult 18-49 rating points (+35%) over its initially-reported Live + Same Day ratings.

· Once Upon a Time grew week to week in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%), while delivering a best-since-premiere number with Teens 12-17.

Exhibiting strong lead-in retention in the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's Revenge finished #2 against its broadcast competition across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). A big gainer in DVR playback, on average this season Revenge leaps from its L+SD to L+7 numbers by 2.8 million viewers and by 1.2 Adult 18-49 rating points (+41%).

· Marking its strongest results since its season premiere, ABC's Revenge was up over the prior week in both viewers (+4%) and young adults (+8%). In addition, Revenge was up nicely over its year-ago telecast on Wednesday at 10pm (10/19/11), increasing by 8% in Total Viewers and by 12% in Adults 18-49.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's 666 Park Avenue beat out its CBS veteran drama competition in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. In fact, the new ABC drama qualified as the #1 entertainment broadcast series in its time slot for the 4th week in a row with Women 18-34. Ranking among the biggest freshman series this season in DVR playback, on average 666 Park Avenue sees its Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 rating jump by 53% (+1.0 rating) and adds on another 2.3 million viewers over its Live + Same Day numbers.

· Building week to week in Total Viewers (+2%), Adults 18-49 (+20%) and Adults 18-34 (+17%), ABC's 666 Park Avenue earned its highest numbers since its series debut telecast on the two latter measures.

Quick Take for Sunday, October 21, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Opposite Huge Sports Competition, ABC's Sunday Grows Week to Week

Surging 10% Week to Week, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" Stands as Sunday's No. 1 Scripted Broadcast Show for the 4th Consecutive Week in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Revenge" Marks Best-Since-Premiere Results and Builds Year to Year

Hitting its Highest Numbers Since its Debut, ABC's "666 Park Avenue" Grows by Double-Digit Percentages Week to Week with Young Adults

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

Despite another Sunday of big sports competition from NBC's "Sunday Night Football" contest (Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals) and an NFL-fueled CBS from a monster Jets-Patriots overrun into the first hour of prime, as well as Fox with MLB Playoffs (National League Championship Game 6), ABC built its numbers week to week in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%). ABC beat out Fox's MLB post-season baseball coverage on the night in both viewers (7.3 million vs. 5.7 million) and young adults (2.3/6 vs. 1.6/4).

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

Catapulting over its lead-in by 154% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/8 vs. 1.3/4) and building from start to finish, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" registered as Sunday's No. 1 scripted broadcast series for the 4th week running. From 8:00-9:00 p.m., "Once Upon a Time" ranked No. 1 in its hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) and was the top-rated broadcast show with Teens 12-17 (tying "Sunday Night Football"). Season to date based on L+7 ratings, "Once Upon a Time" spikes by 3.0 million viewers and by 1.3 Adult 18-49 rating points (+35%) over its initially-reported Live + Same Day ratings.

· "Once Upon a Time" grew week to week in Total Viewers (+2% - 9.7 million vs. 9.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+10% - 3.3/8 vs. 3.0/8), while delivering a best-since-premiere number with Teens 12-17.

"Revenge" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Exhibiting strong lead-in retention in the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Revenge" finished No. 2 against its broadcast competition across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). A big gainer in DVR playback, on average this season "Revenge" leaps from its L+SD to L+7 numbers by 2.8 million viewers and by 1.2 Adult 18-49 rating points (+41%).

· Marking its strongest results since its season premiere, ABC's "Revenge" was up over the prior week in both viewers (+4% - 8.6 million vs. 8.3 million) and young adults (+8% - 2.8/6 vs. 2.6/6). In addition, "Revenge" was up nicely over its year-ago Wednesday telecast (8.0 million and 2.5/7 on 10/19/11), increasing by 8% in Total Viewers and by 12% in Adults 18-49.

"666 Park Avenue" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "666 Park Avenue" beat out its CBS veteran drama competition in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. In fact, the new ABC drama qualified as the No. 1 entertainment broadcast series in its time slot for the 4th week in a row with Women 18-34. Ranking among the biggest freshman series this season in DVR playback, on average "666 Park Avenue" sees its Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 rating jump by 53% (+1.0 rating) and adds on another 2.3 million viewers over its Live + Same Day numbers.

· Building week to week in Total Viewers (+2% - 4.9 million vs. 4.8 million), Adults 18-49 (+20% - 1.8/4 vs. 1.5/4) and Adults 18-34 (+17% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.2/3), ABC's "666 Park Avenue" earned its highest numbers since its series debut telecast on the two latter measures.

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 46% 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 Ratings), 10/21/12.