Primetime Ratings Report For the week of June 9, 2008 (Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)
Snapping Fox's 22-Week Winning Streak, ABC Ranks No. 1 Among Adults 18-49
In Viewers and Young Adults, the Net Marks its Top Summer Week in 2 Years
ABC Delivers 4 of the Week's Top 15 TV Programs Among Adults 18-49, Placing
Each of the Top 3 Shows in Viewers and Young Adults with the 2008 NBA Finals
'08 NBA Finals Tops Last Year's by 57% in Viewers and 62% in Adults 18-49,
The Strongest Series Since 2004 and ABC's 2nd-Highest in 6 Years of Coverage
"Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" Specials Earn Broad Exposure for the Show,
Up by 76% in Viewers and by 67% in Adults 18-49 Over its Late-Night Averages
"The Bachelorette" Wins its Slot in Key Women Demos for the 2nd Straight Week
"The Mole" Builds its Lead-in in Men 18-34 and Men 18-49 for the 2nd Consecutive Week and Grows from its Week-Earlier Season Premiere Across All Key Men Demos
With Another Big Turnout for the 2008 NBA Finals, ABC is No. 1 on Tuesday in Viewers and Young Adults, Breaking Fox's 21-Week Winning Streak on the Night
NBA Finals Drives ABC to its Highest-Rated Tuesday Since January 2006
Among Men 18-34 and Since June 2006 with Men 18-49 and Men 25-54
ABC Wins Thursday in Viewers and Adults 18-49, No. 1 on the Night
In the Key Young Adult Sales Demographic for the 8th Week in a Row
Driven by Strong Results from its Dramas in April and May, Along with the NBA
Finals in June, ABC Marks its Longest Thursday Winning Streak in Over 16 Years
For the 2nd Straight Sunday with the NBA Finals, ABC Wins in Adults 18-49
The Top Game of 2008, Game 5 of the Lakers-Celtics Finals Bests All NBA Contests Over the Past 2 Years and is the Top Non-Series-Clinching Finals Game in 4 Years
WEEK No. 38:
ABC ranked No. 1 during the week of June 9, 2008, across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (2.4/9), A18-49 (2.5/8) and A25-54 (2.7/8). Leading the week by 14% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8 vs. 2.2/7 � Fox), ABC snapped Fox's 22-week winning streak � Fox led each weekly frame since the week of 1/7/08. ABC won each night of NBA Finals coverage during the week in Adults 18-49 (Tues/Thurs/Sun), leading primetime on all 5 evenings with Games 1-5. In addition, all 5 NBA contests have ranked as the No. 1 TV show on their respective evenings in Total Viewers and across all key adult demos.
� For the 2nd week in a row in Total Viewers (6.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/8), the Network was up over the prior week (w/o 6/2/08 = 6.1 million and 2.2/7) and posted solid increases from the same week last year (w/o 6/11/07 = 5.1 million and 1.8/6). In fact among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC turned in its strongest week during a summer frame (Memorial Day-Labor Day) in 2 years � since 6/12/06.
Rankings: ABC aired 4 of the week's Top 15 TV shows in Adults 18-49, including the Top 3 programs with the 2008 NBA Finals Games 3-5: "NBA Finals on ABC � Game 5" � No. 1, "NBA Finals on ABC � Game 3" � No. 2, "NBA Finals on ABC � Game 4" � No. 3 and "The Bachelorette" � No. 15. In addition, the NBA Championship contests also registered as the Top 3 most-watched television programs overall for the week: "NBA Finals on ABC � Game 5" � No. 1, "NBA Finals on ABC � Game 3" � No. 2 and "NBA Finals on ABC � Game 4" � No. 3. It was the 3rd consecutive week that ABC claimed TV's No. 1 program in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating trends based on the Live + Same Day data stream may be somewhat distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped from 17% at the same point in 2006-07, up to 25% currently. 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.
Monday
ABC's Monday night lineup won the evening in Women 18-49 (2.8/8) for the 3rd week in a row. In fact it's the 12th time in the last 13 weeks that ABC has taken the top spot among Women 18-49.
"The Bachelorette" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)
For the 2nd week running "The Bachelorette" led its 2-hour time period across each of the key women demographics: Women 18-34 (2.7/8), Women 18-49 (3.3/9) and Women 25-54 (3.8/10).
� "The Bachelorette" grew its audience throughout its 8:00-10:00 p.m. telecast, growing by 1.5 million viewers (5.7 million to 7.2 million) and 37% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 to 2.6/7) from start to finish.
"The Mole" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Week 2 of ABC's "The Mole" saw the unscripted program improve on its premiere telecast across each of the key men demographics: Men 18-34 (1.2/4 vs. 1.1/3), Men 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.2/3) and Men 25-54 (1.4/4 vs. 1.3/4).
� Similarly to the previous week, "The Mole" built on its lead-in among Men 18-34 (1.2/4 vs. 1.1/4) and Men 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.2/4).
Tuesday
With another strong turnout for the 2008 NBA Finals (Los Angeles-Boston Game 3), ABC delivered a definitive Tuesday victory, beating its nearest primetime competition by 7% in Total Viewers (9.8 million vs. 9.2 million - CBS) and by 18% in Adults 18-49 (3.9/12 vs. 3.3/10 - Fox). In fact ABC has been the No. 1 network on all 3 nights with coverage of the '08 NBA Championship Series on both Nielsen measures. By ranking No. 1 on the evening in the key sales demo, ABC snapped Fox's 21-week Tuesday night winning streak.
� ABC scored its highest-rated Tuesday since January 2006 with Men 18-34 (5.2/18) and since June 2006 with Men 18-49 (5.0/16) and Men 25-54 (5.2/15) � since 1/3/06 and 6/20/06, respectively.
� ABC's Tuesday numbers surged ahead of the same night last year, when it carried the third game for the 2007 NBA Finals, by 2.9 million viewers and by 44% in Adults 18-49 (6.9 million and 2.7/9 on 6/12/07).
"2008 NBA Finals Game 3" (9:04 � 11:59 p.m. E.T.)
ABC's broadcast of the '08 NBA Finals Game 3 overshadowed its primetime competition from 9:00-11:00 p.m. to qualify as Tuesday's No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (14.5 million) and across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (6.3/20), A18-49 (6.0/18) and A25-54 (6.2/17). It was the 3rd consecutive telecast for the Finals to stand as the evening's No. 1 television show in viewers and all key adults. The Los Angeles Lakers won Game 3 by a score of 87-81, making the best-of-seven series 2-1, in Boston's favor.
� The strongest game so far of 2008 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Game 3 qualified as the biggest non-series-clinching NBA Finals contest in 4 years � since Game 4 of the 2004 Finals on 6/13/04. Game 3 tallied year-to-year increases of 5.0 million viewers and 58% in Adults 18-49 over the third contest of the 2007 Finals (9.5 million & 3.8/12 on 6/12/07).
Thursday
With continuing coverage of the 2008 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, ABC took first place on Thursday night in Total Viewers (9.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.7/12). The Net posted a convincing young adult victory on the evening, defeating second-place Fox with "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" and "So You Think You Can Dance" during primetime by 61% in Adults 18-49 (3.7/12 vs. 2.3/7). In fact ABC has been the No. 1 network on all 4 nights with coverage of the 2008 NBA Finals on both Nielsen measures.
� Driven by strong performances from its Thursday dramas during April and May, along with the NBA Finals the past two weeks (4/24-6/12/08), ABC stood as Thursday's No. 1 network in Adults 18-49 for the 8th week in a row. It's the Network's longest Thursday winning streak in more than 16 years � pre-dating the start of Nielsen's electronic database in September 1991.
� ABC's primetime results numbers were up considerably over the same night a year ago, with coverage of the series-clinching-fourth game for the 2007 NBA Finals, gaining 2.2 million viewers and by 32% in Adults 18-49 (7.2 million and 2.8/9 on 6/14/07).
"Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" (Various Time Periods)
Airing around the NBA Finals in various time periods across the country (with 94-98% U.S. Coverage), the "Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" specials are generating broad exposure for the ABC late-night talker in primetime. On average, the four "JKL Game Night" specials are up by 76% in Total Viewers (3.0 million vs. 1.7 million) and by 67% in Adults 18-49 (1.0/4 vs. 0.6/3), over the show's '07-08 TV Season average in late night.
"2008 NBA Finals Game 4" (9:04 � 11:56 p.m. E.T.)
ABC's telecast of Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals took control of its primetime competition from 9:00-11:00 p.m. and registered as Thursday's No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (13.8 million) and across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (5.7/19), A18-49 (5.6/17) and A25-54 (5.6/16). It was the 4th broadcast in a row for the Finals to stand as the evening's No. 1 television show in viewers and all key adults. The Boston Celtics won Game 4 by a score of 97-91 to lead the best-of-seven-game series 3-1.
� Game 4 was up year to year by 3.9 million viewers and 40% in Adults 18-49 over the series-concluding Game 4 of the 2007 Championships (9.9 million & 4.0/13 on 6/14/07).
Friday
ABC earned second place on Friday in Total Viewers (4.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.3/5), while ranking No. 1 on the night among Women 25-54 (2.0/6-tie).
"20/20" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
In the final hour of the night, ABC News' "20/20" placed second in its hour, posting week-to-week increases in both Total Viewers (+12% - 5.5 million vs. 4.9 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+14% - 1.6/5 vs. 1.4/5). In addition, the newsmagazine won its hour and stood as the No. 1 program on Friday in both Women 18-49 (2.1/7) and Women 25-54 (2.6/8).
Sunday
For the 2nd week in a row with coverage of the 2008 Lakers-Boston NBA Finals, ABC stood as Sunday's No. 1 network in Adults 18-49. ABC outpaced second-place NBC during primetime, with its coverage of the U.S. Open Golf Tournament, by 15% in the key young adult sales demographic (3.8/12 vs. 3.3/10). In fact ABC has ranked as the No. 1 net in Adults 18-49 on all 5 nights with coverage of the 2008 NBA Championship Series.
� ABC garnered its top non-Oscar Sunday numbers across each of the key men demographics since 2006 � best since 3/12/06 in Men 18-34 (4.5/13) and best since 5/21/06 in both Men 18-49 (5.6/14) and Men 25-54 (4.8/13).
"Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" (Various Time Periods)
Airing around the NBA Finals in various time periods across the country (with 94-98% U.S. Coverage), the "Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" specials are generating broad exposure for the ABC late-night talker in primetime. On average, the five "JKL Game Night" specials are up by 76% in Total Viewers (3.0 million vs. 1.7 million) and by 67% in Adults 18-49 (1.0/4 vs. 0.6/3), over the show's '07-08 TV Season average in late night.
"2008 NBA Finals Game 5" (9:05 p.m. -12:12 a.m E.T.)
ABC's 2008 NBA Finals Game 5 soared over its primetime competitors to qualify as Sunday night's No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (17.4 million) and across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (7.2/24), A18-49 (7.3/21) and A25-54 (7.4/20). It was the 5th consecutive broadcast for the 2008 Finals to rank as the evening's No. 1 television show in viewers and all key adults. The Los Angeles Lakers won Game 5 by a score of 103-98, making Boston's advantage in the best-of-seven-game series 3-2 and forcing a Game 6 on Tuesday (6/17/08).
� The highest-rated game of 2008 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Game 5 topped all Finals games during the past 2 years (2007 & 2006) to represent the strongest NBA contest since the deciding Game 7 of 2005 (6/23/05). In addition, it was the biggest non-series-clinching NBA Finals contests in 4 years � since Game 4 of the 2004 Finals on 6/13/04. Game 5 also stands as TV's highest-rated program telecast this summer with young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) � television's highest telecast since the season finale of "American Idol" on 5/21/08.
� On average, the five games the 2008 NBA Finals jumped by 57% in Total Viewers (14.6 million vs. 9.3 million) and by 62% in Adults 18-49 (6.0/18 vs. 3.7/12) over the average for the 4-game 2007 Championship Series. In viewers and young adults, it's the strongest performance for the NBA Finals Series since 2004 and the second-highest overall in the 6 years that ABC has covered the Finals. ABC began airing the NBA Finals in 2003.
Source: Nielsen Media Research (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 6/9/08, unless stated otherwise.
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