Primetime Ratings Report For the week of January 23-29, 2006
ABC Airs 5 of the Week�s Top 15 TV Shows in Adults 18-49, Including
The No. 1 Scripted Program in the Key Sales Demo, �Grey�s Anatomy�
Growing from the Same Week Last Year for the Second Week in a Row,
Season to Date ABC is the Only Network Up in Viewers and Young Adults
The Series� Highest-Rated Repeat Ever, ABC�s �Wife Swap� Ranks No. 1 in
Adults 18-49, Beating Fox�s �Skating with Celebrities� on Monday from 8-9pm
ABC�s �The Bachelor: Paris� Posts its Second Consecutive Week of Increases
In Viewers and Adults 18-49 and is No. 1 Monday from 10-11pm in Adults 18-34
ABC�s �Boston Legal� Posts Season Highs in Viewers and Adults 18-49,
Winning the Tuesday 10 O�clock Hour in Both Nielsen Measures
ABC�s �Lost� Dominates the Wednesday 9 O�clock Hour, Ranking as the
No. 1 Scripted Program on the Night in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49
�Invasion� Delivers Week-to-Week Increases in Viewers and Young Adults
Widening its Advantages, ABC Beats NBC on Thursday for the
Second Week in a Row Among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49
Drawing its Largest Audience This Season, ABC�s �Dancing with the Stars�
Ranks No. 1 in its Time Period among Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Kids 2-11
Continuing to Improve its Time Slot in Viewers and Young Adults, ABC�s �Crumbs�
Is the Most-Watched Comedy Thursday at 9:30pm for the Third Consecutive Week
Friday�s Most-Watched Show for the Third Week in a Row, �Dancing With the Stars The Results� Wins at 8pm in Viewers and Adults 18-49 for the Fourth Straight Week
ABC Posts a Dominant Victory on Sunday, Wining Each Half-hour of
Primetime and Claiming the Top 3 Programs of the Evening in Adults 18-49
Building on its Lead-in by 4.5 Million Viewers and by 51% in Adults 18-49, �Grey�s Anatomy� Beats its Combined CBS and NBC Competition by 32% in Adults 18-49
WEEK No. 18:
ABC took second place to �American Idol�-boosted Fox during the week of January 23, 2006, among Adults 18-34 (2.9/9), Teens 12-17 (1.7/6) and Kids 2-11 (1.3/5).
� For the second week in a row, ABC�s primetime delivery was up from the same week a year ago (w/o 1/24/05). Year to year the Network�s audience grew by 1.4 million viewers (10.8 million vs. 9.4 million) and by 6% in Adults 18-49 (3.7/10 vs. 3.5/9).
� Season to date (19 complete weeks), ABC remains the only broadcaster to grow its Adult 18-49 audience over the same point a year ago (4.0/11 vs. 3.9/11). CBS (-5%) and NBC (-16%) are down, while Fox, UPN and WB are all flat. ABC is also the only network to gain Total Viewers, up 6% over its performance at the same point last year (11.0 million vs. 10.4 million).
Rankings: ABC aired 5 of the week�s Top 15 TV programs in Adults 18-49, including the No. 1 scripted series with �Grey�s Anatomy�: �Grey�s Anatomy� � No. 3, �Lost� � No. 5, �Extreme Makeover: Home Edition� � No. 7, �Desperate Housewives (R)� � No. 11 and �Dancing With the Stars� � No. 12. The Network placed 3 of the Top 10 most-watched programs during the week: �Dancing with the Stars� � No. 6, �Lost� � No. 7 and �Grey�s Anatomy� � No. 8. In addition to being the No. 1 scripted series of the week in Adults 18-49 (tied w/ CBS� �C.S.I.�), ABC�s �Grey�s Anatomy� was also the highest-rated scripted program among Adults 18-34, Women 18-49 and Women 18-34.
Monday
Although 2/3 of its lineup was in repeat against mostly original competition on the other nets (including premieres on CBS and Fox), ABC moved into the No. 1 position on Monday among Adults 18-34 (3.7/10-tie) and Women 18-34 (5.3/13). In addition, ABC beat NBC�s original schedule by 12% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/9 vs. 3.4/8). It was ABC�s highest-rated non-sports Monday among Adults 18-34 in 11 months � since 2/28/05.
� ABC delivered its second straight week of increases on Monday night among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. The Net was up from the prior Monday by 10% in Total Viewers (8.6 million vs. 7.8 million) and by 9% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/9 vs. 3.5/8).
�Wife Swap� (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
Against original competition from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC�s repeat installment of �Wife Swap� ranked No. 1 among Adults 18-49 (4.0/10 � tied w/CBS). The replay �Wife Swap� beat the much deflated time period premiere of Fox�s �Skating with Celebrities� in the hour by 8% in the key sales demographic (4.0/10 vs. 3.7/9). The Fox show was down substantially from its debut telecast the previous Wednesday, when it delivered a 7.2/17 in Adults 18-49. ABC�s broad skewing �Wife Swap� also won its time period among Adults 18-34 (3.6/11) and Teens 12-17 (2.7/8).
� The repeat episode of �Wife Swap� was up over its original telecast by 3.4 million viewers (10.2 million vs. 6.8 million) and by 60% in Adults 18-49 (4.0/10 vs. 2.5/6) on 9/20/05. In fact it was the strongest-ever repeat telecast for �Wife Swap� in viewers and young adults. The ABC unscripted series also marked its second-strongest performance ever in its Monday time period on both counts.
�The Bachelor: Paris � SP-1/23� (9:00 -10:00 p.m.)
Growing from the prior week in viewers and young adults, ABC�s repeat of �The Bachelor: Paris� won its hour in its core audience of Women 18-34 (4.9/12).
�The Bachelor: Paris� (10:00 -11:00 p.m.)
Building on its lead-in and throughout its broadcast, ABC�s �The Bachelor: Paris� moved up into the No. 1 position at 10 o�clock for the first time among Adults 18-34 (4.3/12-tie) and Women 18-34 (6.2/16). It was the No. 1 TV show on Monday among Women 18-34.
� With its best numbers in three tries, �The Bachelor: Paris� posted its second consecutive week of viewer and young adult increases. The unscripted program was up from the previous week by 8% in Total Viewers (8.4 million vs. 7.8 million) and by 11% in Adults 18-49 (4.0/10 vs. 3.6/9). In fact it was the highest-rated telecast among Adults 18-49 for �The Bachelor� franchise since May 2004 � since 5/19/04, with the season finale of �The Bachelor� with Jesse.
Tuesday
�Commander In Chief� (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Airing against the second hour of Fox�s �American Idol�, ABC�s �Commander In Chief� grew from its lead-in by 4.9 million viewers (10.4 million vs. 5.5 million) and by 21% among Adults 18-49 (2.3/5 vs. 1.9/4). The freshman drama also gained in viewers (10.0 million to 10.7 million) and young adults (2.2/5 to 2.3/5) from start to finish.
� �Commander In Chief� was up from the prior week among Men 18-34 (1.3/4 vs. 1.1/3), Men 18-49 (2.1/5 vs. 2.0/5) and Teens 12-17 (0.7/2 vs. 0.4/1).
�Boston Legal� (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
ABC�s �Boston Legal� won its time period in Total Viewers (12.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.7/9), delivering season highs in both Nielsen measures.
� �Boston Legal� defeated CBS� �Love Monkey� (7.7 million & 3.1/8) by 5.2 million viewers and by 19% among Adults 18-49.
Wednesday
ABC placed a solid second on Wednesday night behind �Idol�-fueled Fox in Adults 18-49 (4.7/11), outperforming third-place CBS by 27% (3.7/9) and fourth-place NBC by 42% (3.3/8).
� ABC was up over the prior week in Adults 18-49 (4.7/11 vs. 4.6/11).
�George Lopez�/�Freddie� (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
From 8:00�9:00 p.m., opposite Fox�s �American Idol,� freshman comedy �Freddie� built on its �George Lopez� lead-in by 14% among Adults 18-49 (2.4/6 vs. 2.1/6).
�Lost� (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
Despite Fox�s enormous advantage from �Idol� coming into the time period (Fox = 35.7 million & 14.5/34 from 8:30-9:00 p.m.), ABC�s �Lost� surged from its lead-in and gained audience throughout its telecast to win the 9 o�clock hour. ABC�s �Lost� beat its drama competition, Fox�s time period premiere of �Bones,� by 7.7 million viewers (19.1 million vs. 11.4 million) and by 70% in Adults 18-49 (8.0/18 vs. 4.7/11). Fox�s �Bones� retained only 35% of its �American Idol� lead-in in viewers and 36% among young adults.
� �Lost� stood as the No. 1 scripted program on Wednesday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. The sophomore drama has been the top scripted program on the night in all 12 of its original telecasts this season.
�Invasion� (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
In the final hour of primetime, ABC�s �Invasion� took second place among Adults 18-49 (3.8/10).
� �Invasion� was up over its performance the previous week in both Total Viewers (9.3 million vs. 9.0 million) and among Adults 18-49 (3.8/10 vs. 3.6/9).
Thursday
For the second straight week, ABC beat NBC on Thursday night in viewers and young adults. ABC�s advantage over NBC widened this week to 6.4 million viewers (14.4 million vs. 8.0 million) and 8% in Adults 18-49 (4.0/10 vs. 3.7/10).
� Although ABC was running ahead of last season�s averages on Thursday night prior the program�s debut, �Dancing with the Stars� is greatly boosting ABC�s improvement on the evening. Compared to the same point last season (19 weeks), ABC�s Thursday night is up by 2.0 million viewers (8.3 million vs. 6.3 million) and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 2.1/5).
�Dancing with the Stars� (8:00-9:30 p.m.)
Drawing its largest audience this season, ABC�s �Dancing with the Stars� was the most-watched program in its time period for the third week in a row. In addition to winning the slot in viewers (19.4 million), �Dancing with the Stars� ranked No. 1 among Adults 18-49 (5.1/13), across the key women demos (W18-34 � 4.7/13, W18-49 � 7.0/17 and W25-54 � 8.9/20), as well as among Kids 2-11 (3.0/10). The ABC unscripted program increased its Adult 18-49 advantage over third-place NBC�s comedies (�Will & Grace�/�Four Kings�/�My Name is Earl�) in the time period to 38% (5.1/13 vs. 3.7/10).
� Broad-appealing �Dancing with the Stars� drew its largest audience this season, while delivering a series high among Kids 2-11.
� On average in its four broadcasts, �Dancing with the Stars� has improved the time period for ABC by 11.8 million viewers (18.3 million vs. 6.5 million) and by 123% in Adults 18-49 (4.9/13 vs. 2.2/6) from the Net�s season average with regular programming this season prior to its debut. On average, �Dancing with the Stars� represents ABC�s strongest Thursday night series in viewers and young adults in the last 6 seasons � since �Millionaire� during the 1999-00 season.
�Crumbs� (9:30-10:00 p.m.)
ABC�s �Crumbs� outdrew its comedy competition in the half-hour, NBC�s �The Office,� for the third consecutive week (10.7 million vs. 8.6 million).
� On average, �Crumbs� has improved the half-hour for ABC by 5.8 million viewers (11.3 million vs. 5.5 million) and by 79% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/8 vs. 1.9/5) over its average with regular programming in the time period this season.
�Primetime� (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Week to week, ABC News� �Primetime� grew by 2.0 million viewers (8.7 million vs. 6.7 million) and by 38% in Adults 18-49 (2.9/8 vs. 2.1/6).
Friday
ABC earned a solid second place on Friday in Total Viewers (9.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/8), while ranking No. 1 on the evening among Adults 18-34 (1.8/7-tie) and Women 18-34 (2.6/9). The Network has ranked No. 1 on the night in Adults 18-34 for 4 weeks in a row.
�Dancing with the Stars the Results� (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
For the fourth time in as many telecasts, �Dancing with the Stars the Results� ranked No. 1 in its time period among Total Viewers (14.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.5/11). Rapper Master P (P. Miller) was the next dancer to be eliminated from the competition. Showing its broad demographic appeal, �DWTS the Results� also delivered the No. 1 position in its time slot among Adults 18-34 (2.5/9) and Adults 25-54 (4.6/13).
� �Dancing with the Stars the Results� qualified as the most-watched TV program on Friday for the third week in a row. The ABC unscripted program was also Friday�s No. 1 television show among Adults 18-34.
�In Justice� (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
ABC�s �In Justice� took second place in its time period in both Total Viewers (7.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.3/7-tie).
Sunday
ABC delivered a decisive victory on Sunday, beating its closest competition on the evening by 6% in Total Viewers (14.8 million vs. 14.0 million - CBS) and by 67% in Adults 18-49 (6.0/14 vs. 3.6/10 - Fox). ABC won each half-hour of the evening in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic.
� ABC claimed the Top 3 TV programs on Sunday among Adults 18-49, with �Grey�s Anatomy,� �Extreme Makeover: Home Edition� and �Desperate Housewives � R.�
�America�s Funniest Home Videos� (7:00-8:00 p.m.)
From 7:00-8:00 p.m., ABC�s �America�s Funniest Home Videos� posted a definitive first place among Adults 18-49, beating second-place CBS by 25% (3.5/10 vs. 2.8/8).
� �America�s Funniest Home Videos� attracted its second-largest audience (10.9 million) this season, while matching the series� highest Adult 18-49 rating (3.5/10) in nearly 3 years � since 2/28/03, when it aired on Friday night.
�Extreme Makeover: Home Edition� (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
Building on its strong lead-in, ABC�s �Extreme Makeover: Home Edition� led the hour by a wide margin among Adults 18-49, outpacing second-place Fox�s comedies (�The Simpsons�/�The War at Home�) by 61% (6.6/16 vs. 4.1/10). Showing strong demographic appeal, �Home Edition� also delivered the No. 1 position in the hour among Adults 25-54 (7.4/16), Adults 18-34 (5.4/15), Teens 12-17 (4.4/13) and Kids 2-11 (4.9/15).
�Desperate Housewives� (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
ABC�s repeat telecast of �Desperate Housewives� ranked No. 1 during the 9 o�clock hour among Total Viewers (13.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (5.5/12). In fact, ABC�s replay �Desperate Housewives� defeated second-place Fox, with its original programming in the time period (�The Family Guy�/�American Dad�), by 25% among Adults 18-49 (5.5/12 vs. 4.4/10).
�Grey�s Anatomy� (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
Growing from its lead-in by 4.5 million viewers and by 51% in Adults 18-49, ABC�s �Grey�s Anatomy� overshadowed its competition during the 10 o�clock hour. �Grey�s Anatomy� outdistanced second-place CBS in the time period by 5.8 million viewers (18.4 million vs. 12.6 million) and topped the combined deliveries of CBS and NBC in the time period by 32% in Adults 18-49 (8.3/20 vs. 6.3/15 � CBS and NBC together).
Source: Nielsen Media Research (Live+SD), week of 1/23/06, or as dated.
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