ABC's Tuesday Comedies Build Against "The Voice" Finale

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

Opposite the 2-hour season finale of The Voice and CBS' all-original drama lineup, ABC was up week to week on Tuesday night by 8% in Adults 18-49

ABC's second rebroadcast this season of A Charlie Brown Christmas ranked #1 against its broadcast competition from 8-9pm in Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11, leading its nearest competitor (NBC) by 63% on the latter measure. In fact, ABC's A Charlie Brown Christmas stood as the night's #1 broadcast show with Kids 2-11, topping The Voice finale by 30%.

· The animated PEANUTS special improved the hour year to year for ABC by 5% in Total Viewers and by 21% in Adults 18-49.

Despite facing The Voice finale at 9pm, ABC's Happy Endings grew 8% week to week in Adults 18-49 to equal a 7-week high - since 10/30/12. Spiking 44% in Adults 18-34 over the prior week, the ABC comedy posted a best-since premiere rating - since 10/23/12. In addition the show matched a season-high with Men 18-34.

At 9:30pm against the second half-hour of The Voice, ABC's Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23 built week to week by 4% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49.

At 10 o'clock, ABC's Private Practice ran as the #1 drama in the hour across all key Women demographics, beating CBS' Vegas by strong double-digit margins: W18-34 +67%, W18-49 +19% and W25-54 +15%.

· Growing for the 2nd week in a row with Women 18-34 (+7%) against the final hour of The Voice finale, Private Practice scored its highest rating in nearly 3 months - since 10/2/12.

Quick Take for Tuesday, December 18, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Against Strong Tuesday Competition, ABC Grows 8% Week to Week in Adults 18-49

The Net's Rebroadcast of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Improves its Hour for ABC Year to Year and Tops "The Voice" Finale as Tuesday's Top Broadcast with Kids 2-11

"Happy Endings" Hits a 7-Week High in Adults 18-49 and a Season High in Men 18-34

"Don't Trust the B--- in Apt 23" is Up Week to Week in Viewers and Young Adults

ABC's "Private Practice" Scores its Highest Rating in 3 Months with Women 18-34

Tuesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

Opposite the 2-hour season finale of "The Voice" and CBS' all-original drama lineup, ABC was up week to week on Tuesday night by 8% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.3/4).

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

ABC's second rebroadcast this season of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" ranked No. 1 against its broadcast competition from 8:00-9:00 p.m. in Teens 12-17 (1.2/5-tie) and Kids 2-11 (2.6/9), leading its nearest competitor (NBC - 1.6/5) by 63% on the latter measure. In fact, ABC's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" stood as the night's top-rated broadcast show with Kids 2-11, topping "The Voice" finale by 30% (2.6/9 vs. 2.0/9).

· The animated PEANUTS special improved the hour year to year for ABC by 5% in Total Viewers (5.8 million vs. 5.5 million) and by 21% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.4/4).

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

Despite facing "The Voice" finale at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Happy Endings" grew 8% week to week in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.2/3) to equal a 7-week high - since 10/30/12. Spiking 44% in Adults 18-34 over the prior week, the ABC comedy posted a best-since premiere rating - since 10/23/12. In addition, "Happy Endings" matched a season-high with Men 18-34.

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

At 9:30 p.m. against the second half-hour of "The Voice," ABC's "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23" built week to week by 4% in Total Viewers (2.6 million vs. 2.5 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/3 vs. 1.0/3).

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

At 10 o'clock, ABC's "Private Practice" ran as the No. 1 drama in the hour across all key Women demographics, beating CBS' "Vegas" by strong double-digit margins: W18-34 (+67% - 1.5/4 vs. 0.9/3), W18-49 (+19% - 1.9/5 vs. 1.6/4) and W25-54 (+15% - 2.3/5 vs. 2.0/5).

· Growing for the 2nd week in a row with Women 18-34 (+7%) against the final hour of "The Voice" finale, "Private Practice" scored its highest rating in nearly 3 months- since 10/2/12.

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), 12/18/12.