Primetime Ratings Report For the week of May 7, 2007
ABC Takes Second for the Week in Adults 18-49, Winning 4 Nights and Claiming 6 of the Week's Top 15 TV Shows in the Key Sales Demographic
For the 4th Straight Week, ABC is Up in Viewers from the Year-Ago Week
ABC Continues to Mark its Longest Monday Viewer Winning Streak in
Well Over 7 Years and its Best with Young Women Since at Least 1991
With its Largest Audience in 6 Weeks, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Dominates
Its Time Slot in Viewers and Adults 18-49 and is Monday's Most-Watched TV Show
Hitting Season Highs in Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC's "The Bachelor" Wins its Time Period in Adults 18-34 and is Monday's No. 1 TV Program in Women 18-34
With its Largest Audience in 4 Weeks, "DWTS the Results Show"
Grows from the Prior Week in Both Viewers and Adults 18-49
Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted TV Show in Adults 18-49, "Lost" Surges from its
Lead-in and Builds Viewers and Young Adult Audience from Start to Finish
ABC Wins its 3rd Straight Thursday of the 2007 May Sweep in Adults 18-49,
Growing by 6.5 Million Viewers and by 109% in Adults 18-49 Year to Year
Beating CBS' "C.S.I." on All 18 Original Match-ups This Season in Adults 18-49,
ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" is Thursday's No. 1 TV Show in Viewers and Young Adults
ABC Wins its 3rd Straight Sunday of the May Sweep Among Adults 18-49,
Ranking No. 1 on the Night for the 7th Consecutive Week in Key Sales Demo
With Part 1 of its Season Finale, ABC "America's Funniest Home Videos"
Wins Sunday's 7 O'clock Hour in Adults 18-49 for the 5th Straight Week
Sunday's No. 1 TV Show for the 6th Straight Week, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" Dominates the 9 O'clock Hour, Beating the Season Finale of CBS' "Survivor: Fiji"
ABC's Freshman "Brothers & Sisters" Wins Sunday's 10 O'clock Hour
In Total Viewers, Young Adults and Across Each of the Key Women Demos
WEEK No. 34:
During the week of May 7, 2007, ABC took second place to Fox among Adults 18-49 (3.2/10-tie) and Adults 18-34 (2.6/9). In fact it was ABC's 5th week in a row to take second place to "Idol"-led Fox among young adults. For the second week in a row, ABC ranked No. 1 on 4 nights in Adults 18-49 (Mon/Thurs/Sat/Sun).
* For the 4th straight week, ABC grew its overall audience from the comparable week last year (9.6 million vs. 8.7 million - w/o 5/8/06). In fact ABC was the only network to increase from the year-ago week, as CBS, NBC and Fox were all down.
Weekly Rankings: ABC aired 6 of the week's Top 15 TV programs in Adults 18-49, placing 4 in the Top 10, the most for any network: "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 4, "Desperate Housewives" - No. 5, "Lost" and "Dancing with the Stars-MON" tied at No. 9, while "Brothers & Sisters" and "Dancing with the Stars Results-TU" tied at No. 15. ABC claimed 4 of the week's Top 10 most-watched television programs, also the most for any net: "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 4, "Dancing with the Stars-MON" - No. 5, "DWTS Results Show-TU" - No. 8 and "Desperate Housewives" - No. 9. With "Grey's Anatomy" (No. 2) and "Desperate Housewives" (No. 3), the Net aired 2 of the Top 3 scripted shows during the week in Adults 18-49.
Monday
ABC delivered the No. 1 position Monday of the 2007 May Sweep in Total Viewers (15.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.4/12). The Network tallied its 8th straight Monday as the most-watched television network, while ranking No. 1 on the evening in Adults 18-49 for 7th time in the past 8 weeks.
* Extending its run on the evening, ABC is delivering its longest Monday Total Viewer winning streak in well over 7 years - since a streak during the 1999-00 season, from 10/18/99-1/09/00. The Net is seeing its longest winning streak on the night since at least 1991 with Women 18-34 (9 weeks consecutive) and Women 18-49 (8 weeks consecutive) - predating the start of Nielsen's electronic database.
* Compared to the year-ago night, ABC's numbers were up by 6.2 million viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49 (8.8 million & 3.8/10 on 5/8/06).
"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:31 p.m.)
Leading its time period by wide margins among Total Viewers (19.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (5.0/14), ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" continued to qualify as Monday's most-watched TV program. In addition to ranking as the night's most-watched program, ABC's broad skewing unscripted dance competition also ranked as the No. 1 TV program of the evening in Women 18-49 (7.4/19) and Kids 2-11 (2.5/10).
* "DWTS" generated its largest audience in 6 weeks and marked its best Adult 18-34 number (3.6/11) in 5 weeks - since 3/26/07 and 4/2/07, respectively.
"The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman" (9:31-11:00 p.m.)
Facing stiff time period competition from CBS' "King of Queens" and "C.S.I.: Miami," as well as NBC's "Heroes" into "Wedding Crashers," ABC's "The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman" retained all of its lead-in to win its slot among Adults 18-34 (3.6/10) and built on its lead to emerge as Monday's No. 1 TV show among its core audience of Women 18-34 (5.7/15). During its final hour from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman" topped NBC's "The Real Wedding Crashers" by 5.4 million viewers (10.2 million vs. 4.8 million) and by 70% in Adults 18-49 (3.9/10 vs. 2.3/6).
* "The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman" achieved season-highs in Total Viewers (10.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.7/10-tie), representing the most-watched telecast for the ABC franchise since the season finale of "The Bachelor: Paris" on 2/27/06.
Tuesday
ABC finished second on the night in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 - tied) and Adults 18-34 (1.9/6).
* Compared to the same night last year (5/9/06), ABC's numbers were up by 3.9 million viewers (10.5 million vs. 6.6 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 vs. 2.1/5).
"Dancing with the Stars the Results Show - TU" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
Surging from its lead-in by 12.3 million viewers and by 163% among young adults against Fox's "Idol"-fueled "House" during the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" finished a competitive second in its time period in Total Viewers (16.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.2/11). ABC's dancing results program topped third-place CBS' "The Unit" in the 9 o'clock hour by 6.2 million viewers and by 35% in Adults 18-49 ("The Unit" = 10.7 million viewers & 3.1/8 in AD18-49). Actor and singer Billy Ray Cyrus was the latest star dancer to be eliminated from the competition, leaving the competition with its final four couples.
* "DWTS the Results Show" was up week to week in Total Viewers (16.9 million vs. 16.3 million) and Adult 18-49 (4.2/11 vs. 4.1/11). In fact, the program drew its largest audience in 4 weeks - since 4/10/07.
Boston Legal" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
Finishing second in the final hour of primetime, ABC's "Boston Legal" was up over the prior week in both Total Viewers (10.0 million vs. 9.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/7 vs. 2.4/6). The ABC drama led its time-slot among Men 18-34, beating NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" by 14% (1.6/5 vs. 1.4/5).
Wednesday
ABC ranked No. 2 on Wednesday to Fox's two-hour "American Idol" lineup among Adults 18-49 (3.1/9 - tied) and Adults 18-34 (2.7/8).
"According to Jim" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)
"According to Jim" placed second in its half-hour among Adult 18-49 (2.3/8) with the Net's strongest young adult performance in the time slot in 3 months - since 02/14/07.
"Notes from the Underbelly" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)
"Notes from the Underbelly" built on it lead-in among Adults 18-34 (2.0/7 vs. 1.9/7) and across each of the key women demographics: Women 18-34 (2.8/9 vs. 2.5/9), Women 18-49 (3.1/9 vs. 3.0/10) and Women 25-54 (3.4/9 vs. 3.3/10).
"Lost" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Growing from its lead-in by 7.7 million viewers (12.1 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 163% in young adults (5.0/13 vs. 1.9/5), "Lost" won its Wednesday time period and was No. 1 scripted program of the night across the adult demographics: Adults 18-34 (4.3/13), Adults 18-49 (5.0/13) and Adults 25-54 (5.6/14). In fact the ABC drama has won its hour in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic on all 14 telecasts since entering its new time slot.
* Despite its late time period and declining TV usage levels, "Lost" grew by 1.0 million viewers (11.6 million to 12.6 million) and by 11% among young adults (4.7/12 to 5.2/15) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.
* "Lost" improved the hour for ABC over the same night last year by 4.5 million viewers and 67% in Adults 18-49 (7.7 million & 3.0/8 on 5/10/06).
Thursday
ABC marked its 3rd straight Thursday of the 2007 May Sweep to win the evening in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic (4.8/14). The Network was also No. 1 on Thursday among Adults 18-34 (4.5/14), across key women (W18-34 - 6.6/19, W18-49 - 7.1/19 and W25-54 - 7.8/19) and among Teens 12-17 (2.4/9).
* ABC's Thursday numbers improved from the year-ago evening (5/11/06) by 6.5 million viewers (12.7 million vs. 6.2 million) and by 109% in Adults 18-49 (4.8/14 vs. 2.3/6).
"Ugly Betty" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
Holding a solid second during the 8 o'clock hour to CBS' veteran "Survivor" in Total Viewers, ABC's "Ugly Betty" (9.6 million) outdrew NBC's comedies (7.1 million - "My Name is Earl"/"The Office") and Fox's "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" (9.3 million). The ABC freshman also took second in the time period among Adults 18-34 (2.8/10), while ranking No. 1 and leading its closest competition in the hour by 19% with Women 18-34 (4.3/14 vs. 3.6/12 - CBS' "Survivor").
* "Betty" has delivered the No. 1 position in its time slot with Women 18-34 on all 21 of its regularly scheduled original telecasts during its freshman season.
"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
The No. 1 TV show on Thursday in Total Viewers (19.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (7.8/21), ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" outdelivered second-place CBS' "C.S.I." in the time period by 4% in viewers and by 42% among young adults ("C.S.I." = 18.8 million and 5.5/14).
* The ABC medical drama has defeated the CBS crime drama in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic on all 18 of their original match-ups this season.
"Traveler" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
A sneak preview airing of ABC's "Traveler" ranked No. 1 during the 10 o'clock hour -- against competition including CBS' season finale of "Without a Trace" and NBC's "ER" -- among Adults 18-34 (3.2/10) and Women 18-34 (4.4/13).
Saturday
ABC's broadcast of the 2007 NBA Playoffs Conference Semi-Finals, between the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs, took the Net to the top spot on Saturday night for the second week in a row among Adults 18-49 (1.7/7) and Adults 18-34 (1.5/7). ABC posted a solid Saturday night victory across the key men demographics, beating second-place "NASCAR 2007 on Fox:" Men 18-34 +100% (2.2/10), Men 18-49 +33% (2.4/9) and Men 25-54 +9% (2.5/8).
* Compared to the same night last year (5/13/06) when ABC Sports' also aired an NBA Playoff game, Saturday's playoff game was up in both Total Viewers (4.9 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.8/7 vs. 1.7/6).
Sunday
Winning its 3rd consecutive Sunday of the 2007 May Sweep in Adults 18-49, ABC marked its 7th Sunday in a row to deliver the No. 1 position on the evening in the key sales demo. Competing against 3 hours of coverage for the season finale of CBS' "Survivor: Fiji," ABC (4.1/12) led second-place CBS by 11% (3.7/11), third-place Fox by 58% (2.6/8) and fourth-place NBC 141% (1.7/5).
* For the 6th week in a row, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" is Sunday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m.)
Winning Sunday's 7 o'clock hour for the 5th consecutive week, Part 1 of the season finale for "America's Funniest Home Videos" bested its closest competition in the time slot by 38% among Adults 18-49 (2.2/9 vs. 1.6/6 - CBS' "60 Minutes").
Editors Please Note: Part 2 of the season finale for "America's Funniest Home Videos" will air at 8:00 p.m. on Friday 5/18/07, leading into the series debut of "National Bingo Night."
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
In Total Viewers (10.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.7/11), ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" took a strong second to CBS' opening hour of the season closer of "Survivor." The ABC unscripted series won the hour, ranking No. 1 from 8:00-9:00 p.m. with Women 18-49 (4.6/14), Women 18-34 (3.6/13) and Kids 2-11 (2.2/9).
"Desperate Housewives" (9:00-10:02 p.m.)
Sunday's No. 1 TV show for the 6th week running, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" won the 9 o'clock hour, beating the second hour of CBS' "Survivor" finale among viewers and young adults. "Housewives" topped second-place CBS in the time period by 1.7 million viewers (16.1 million vs. 14.4 million) and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (6.1/16 vs. 4.9/13).
"Brothers & Sisters" (10:02-11:00 p.m.)
Opposite CBS' "Survivor: Fiji Reunion" show during the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's freshman "Brothers & Sisters" ranked No. 1 among Total Viewers (11.4 million), Adults 18-49 (4.2/11), Adults 18-34 (3.1/10) and dominated across each of the key women demographics: W18-34 (4.4/13), W18-49 (5.8/15) and W25-54 (6.7/16).
Source: Nielsen Media Research, NTI (Live + Same Day or Most Current), week of 5/7/07, or as dated.
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