ABC's "Shark Tank" Draws 2nd Biggest Audience as Tuesday Comedies Spike to Best-Since-Premiere Numbers

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

During the 8 o'clock hour against NBC's The Voice and CBS' Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, ABC's special Christmas-themed Shark Tank beat out Fox's comedies by wide margins (Raising Hope/Ben & Kate), leading by 3.7 million viewers and by 31% in Adults 18-49. Despite facing The Voice in the hour, ABC's Shark Tank pulled in its 2nd-largest-ever audience for a regular telecast.

Returning to the 9pm half-hour after the prior week's preemption, ABC's Happy Endings jumped 18% in Adults 18-49 and 22% in Adults 18-34 over its 2-week-ago telecast. In fact the ABC comedy equaled its best Adult 18-49 rating since its season premiere - since 10/23/12.

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 spiked over its most-recent airing by 33% in Adults 18-49 and by 100% in Adults 18-34, marking best-since-premiere numbers on both counts - since 10/23/12.

Building its overall audience (+5%) for its 2nd straight airing in Tuesday's 10pm hour, ABC's Private Practice generated its most-watched telecast in 6 weeks - since 10/23/12.

Quick Take for Tuesday, December 4, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Christmas-Themed "Shark Tank" Beats Fox's Comedies by Wide Margins, And Despite Facing "The Voice" in the Hour, Attracts its 2nd-Largest Audience

"Happy Endings" Jumps 18% to Post a Best-Since Premiere Adult 18-49 Rating

"Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" Spikes by 33% in Adults 18-49 and by 100% in Adults 18-34 Over its Last Telecast with its Top Results Since its Premiere

In the 10pm Hour, "Private Practice" Marks its Most-Watched Telecast in 6 Weeks

"Shark Tank SP" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

During the 8 o'clock hour against NBC's "The Voice" and CBS' "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," ABC's special Christmas-themed "Shark Tank" beat out Fox's comedies by wide margins ("Raising Hope"/"Ben & Kate"), leading by 3.7 million viewers (6.9 million vs. 3.2 million) and by 31% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.3/4).

· Despite facing "The Voice" in the hour, ABC's "Shark Tank" attracted its 2nd-largest audience.

"Happy Endings" (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Returning to the 9:00 p.m. half-hour after the prior week's preemption, ABC's "Happy Endings" jumped 18% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/3 vs. 1.1/3) and 22% in Adults 18-34 (1.1/4 vs. 0.9/3) over its 2-week-ago telecast. In fact the ABC comedy equaled its best Adult 18-49 rating since its season premiere - since 10/23/12.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" spiked over its most-recent airing by 33% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/3 v s. 0.9/2) and by 100% in Adults 18-34 (1.2/4 vs. 0.6/2), marking best-since-premiere numbers on both counts - since 10/23/12.

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

Building its overall audience (+5%) for its 2nd straight airing in Tuesday's 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Private Practice" generated its most-watched telecast in 6 weeks (4.4 million) - since 10/23/12.

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 43% 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), 12/04/12.