May 5, 2015
Primetime Rating Report for the Week of April 27, 2015
(Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)
ABC Wins its 2nd Consecutive Week Among Adults 18-49 and is
The Only Major Net to Increase its Young Adult Audience this Season
ABC is Monday’s Most-Watched Net for the 6th Time in 7 Weeks with
“DWTS” as the No. 1 Program Overall and “Castle” as the Top Scripted Show
“DWTS: 10th Anniversary Special” Draws Slot’s Most Viewers Since November
“S.H.I.E.L.D.” Builds for the 2nd Week to Deliver its Biggest Audience of 2015
ABC’s News Special Posts 5-Month Highs for ABC in Tuesday’s 10pm Hour
ABC Wins the First Wednesday of the May Sweep and Spikes 19% Year to Year
“The Middle” Builds 11% Week to Week to Tie an 8-Week High in Adults 18-49
At 8:30pm, ABC’s “The Goldbergs” Beats “Idol” by 31% in Adults 18-49
“Modern Family” is Wednesday’s No. 1 TV Show for its 4th Straight Original
“black-ish” is No. 1 in its Slot for the 2nd Week in a Row in Adults 18-49
“Nashville” Matches a 2-Month High and Gains Year to Year in Adults 18-49
“Grey’s” Scores its 2nd-Best Rating Since its Mid-Season Return 3 Months Ago
ABC Wins Friday for the 4th Straight Week in Adults 18-49 with “Shark Tank”
And the Debut of “Beyond the Tank” Tying as the Night’s No. 1 TV Show
ABC Wins its 2nd Straight Sunday of the 2015 May Sweep in Adults 18-49
“Secrets and Lies” Season Finale Hits New Series Highs in Viewers and Young Adults
“Revenge” Surges to its Top Young Adult Rating Since December
ABC Adult 18-49 Weekly Ratings Projections (w/o 4/27/15)
ABC’s weekly Live + Same Day Adult 18-49 average is projected to increase 30% to a 2.0 rating in Live + 3 Day and build 38% to a 2.1 rating in Live + 7 Day.
Week No. 32 (Live + Same Day)
ABC won its 2nd consecutive week in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 – w/o 4/27/15), leading by double digits over CBS (+15% – 1.3/5), NBC (+25% – 1.2/4) and Fox (+50% – 1.0/3). The Net was the top-rated broadcaster on 5 nights of the week (Wed-Sun). Exhibiting strong competitive momentum heading into the homestretch of the season, the ABC has finished No. 1 (5 times) or No. 2 (7 times) in the key young adult sales demo on 12 of the past 14 weeks – beginning with the final week in January. In addition, the Net was No. 1 for the 2nd week running in Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54 (tie) and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).
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Season to date (32 Weeks – Most Current), ABC is gaining Total Viewers (+5% – 7.9 million vs. 7.5 million) and is the only broadcast net up in Adults 18-49 (+5% – 2.2/7 vs. 2.1/6). In the key young adult sales demo, CBS (-4%), NBC (-11%) and Fox (-20%) are each down for the season. In addition, ABC has greatly improved its competitive position year to year pacing within 1-tenth of 2nd-place CBS (2.2/7 vs. 2.3/7), up from a distant 4th place at the same point last season. ABC is the No. 1 network this season in Nielsen’s non-sports averages with Adults 18-49 and is the only broadcaster up (+5%).
Rankings: ABC aired 7 of the Top 20 TV programs in Adults 18-49, placing 3 of the Top 10, including the No. 1 ad-supported drama with “Grey’s Anatomy” and 2 of the Top 3 comedies with “Modern Family” and “The Goldbergs:” “Modern Family” – No. 4, “Grey’s Anatomy” – No. 5, “The Goldbergs” – No. 9, “DWTS,” “The Middle” and “black-ish” tied at No. 11 and “Secrets and Lies” – No. 20. In Total Viewers, ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” was TV’s most-watched unscripted series for the 7th week running and once again a Top 5 show overall (No. 4). ABC’s special “Captive: A Journey of Hope and Survival” on Tuesday was the week’s No. 1 news program in Adults 18-49.
Monday
ABC was Monday’s most-watched TV network (11.6 million) for the 6th time in 7 weeks and took second in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5), outdelivering CBS (+21% – 1.4/5) and Fox (+21% – 1.4/4) with young adults.
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“Dancing” was the night’s most-watched TV show overall (13.2 million – Monday’s top series for the 7th straight week) and the No. 2 show in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6). ABC’s “Castle” was the night’s most-watched scripted TV show (8.3 million).
“Dancing with the Stars” (8:00-10:00 p.m. – 13.2 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:01 p.m., ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” outdrew NBC’s “The Voice” by 2.7 million viewers (13.2 million vs. 10.5 million) for the time-slot win and ran a strong 2nd in the 2-hour time period with Adults 18-49 (2.0/6), leading by double digits over CBS (+33% – 1.5/5) and Fox’s dramas (+43% – 1.4/4 for “Gotham”/”The Following”).
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“Dancing” was up from its comparable telecast last season/fall (12.6 million and 1.9/5 on 10/27/14) in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
“Castle” (10:01-11:00 p.m. – 8.3 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):
During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC’s “Castle” was the most-watched TV show (8.3 million) and ran in a near tie for the Adult 18-49 broadcast lead (1.3/4).
Tuesday
“DWTS: 10th Anniversary Special” (8:00-9:00 p.m. – 10.1 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49):
At 8:00 p.m., ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars: 10th Anniversary Special” took second in its hour in Total Viewers (10.1 million) to CBS’ “NCIS,” drawing the Net’s biggest audience to the 1-hour time period since November – since 11/25/14. In addition, the “Dancing” retrospective hit an 11-week high in the slot with Adults 18-49 (1.7/6) – since 2/10/15.
“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (9:00-10:01 p.m. – 4.6 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49):
At 9:00 p.m., ABC’s “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” was up for the 2nd week in Total Viewers (+5% – 4.6 million vs. 4.4 million), drawing its biggest audience of 2015. The show held steady with its week-ago Adult 18-49 number (1.5/5 vs. 1.6/5). The ABC drama earned second in the hour over original comedies on NBC and Fox with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 and ranked as the No. 1 series with key Men (M18-34/M18-49).
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On average season to date, “S.H.I.E.L.D.” is improving its time slot by 47% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 vs. 1.9/5) over the comparable weeks last season.
“Captive: A Journey of Hope and Survival” (10:01-11:00 p.m. – 5.9 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m. opposite original dramas on CBS (“Person of Interest”) and NBC (“Chicago Fire”), ABC’s “Captive: A Journey of Hope and Survival” tied CBS’ “Person of Interest” in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4) and matched NBC’s “Chicago Fire” for No. 1 with key Women (W18-49/W25-54). On the special “20/20,” ABC News anchor Robin Roberts brought viewers the remarkable story of hope, strength and resilience in the first broadcast interview with Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, two of the girls who were kidnapped by Ariel Castro and survived a decade of imprisonment and unimaginable torture in his Cleveland home. The ABC News special delivered a 5-month high for ABC in the time period with Total Viewers (5.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.4/4) – since 11/25/14.
Wednesday
ABC won the first Wednesday of the 2015 May Sweep by double digits in Adults 18-49 (1.9/7), leading CBS by 12% (1.7/6), Fox’s prime with a 2-hour “American Idol” by 19% (1.6/5) and NBC with its “Chicago PD”/”L&O: SVU” crossovers by 27% (1.5/5). Delivering 4 of the Top 5 series on the night in Adults 18-49, ABC’s “Modern Family” was Wednesday’s No. 1 TV show for its 4th straight original.
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The Net surged from the year-ago night with an all-original schedule (5.7 million and 1.6/5 on 4/30/14) by 11% in Total Viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49, as each of its Wednesday programs were up year to year in their time periods with young adults. In fact season to date, ABC’s Wednesday is growing in both Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).
“The Middle” (8:00-8:30 p.m. – 7.4 million and 2.0/8 in AD18-49):
At 8:00 p.m. against “Survivor,” “The Middle” ran neck-and-neck CBS unscripted show for No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (2.0/8 vs. 2.1/8), while beating “Idol” for the 6th week running in the half-hour (+18% – 1.7/7). The ABC comedy built week to week by 11% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/8 vs. 1.8/7) to match an 8-week high (since 3/4/15) and also topped its year-ago telecast by 11%.
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Season to date, “The Middle” is up in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).
“The Goldbergs” (8:30-9:00 p.m. – 6.8 million and 2.1/8 in AD18-49):
Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 8:30 p.m., “The Goldbergs” outdelivered “Idol” in the slot for its 7th consecutive original (+31% – 2.1/8 vs. 1.6/6). The show was steady week to week in Adults 18-49.
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Season to date, the ABC sophomore is surpassing its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, improving its half-hour year to year by 50% and building on its own performance on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. by 17%.
“Modern Family” (9:00-9:31 p.m. – 8.0 million and 2.9/10 in AD18-49):
Growing 38% from its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC’s “Modern Family” won its half-hour by 61% over its nearest competition (2.9/10 vs. 1.8/6 for CBS’ “Criminal Minds”). The ABC comedy was up over its year-ago telecast by 4% in Adults 18-49.
“black-ish” (9:31-10:00 p.m. – 5.9 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):
In the 9:30 p.m. slot, ABC’s “black-ish” was No. 1 in its half-hour for the 2nd week in a row, beating NBC’s “Chicago PD” (+5% – 2.0/6 vs. 1.9/6). The show was on par week to week in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 2.1/6).
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Season to date, “black-ish” is boosting its half-hour for ABC by 3.0 million viewers and by 48% in Adults 18-49 over the comparable weeks last year.
“Nashville” (10:00-11:00 p.m. – 4.7 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):
During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s “Nashville” held steady in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4) to equal a 2-month high – since 3/4/15. The ABC drama was up over its year-ago telecast by 8% in Adults 18-49. From 10:00-11:00 p.m., “Nashville” beat CBS’ “CSI: Cyber” by 8% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.2/4).
Thursday
ABC was the No. 1 broadcaster on Thursday for the 2nd week in a row in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), edging out CBS (1.9/6) and once again more than doubling NBC (0.9/3) and Fox (0.8/3). The Net was up over the year-ago May Sweep Thursday by double digits (6.2 million and 1.6/5 on 5/1/14) in Total Viewers (+15%) and Adults 18-49 (+25%). Please Note: ESPN carried round 1 of the 2015 NFL Draft during primetime on Thursday, providing big demographic competition. Opposite the increased competition, ABC held steady week to week in Adults 18-49 at a 7-week high – since 3/12/15.
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ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” (2.6/9) was Thursday’s top drama and the No. 2 TV series of the night in Adults 18-49, behind only CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory.” In addition, the ABC drama was Thursday’s No. 1 TV series with key Women (W18-34/W18-49), outdelivering “Big Bang Theory.”
“Grey’s Anatomy” (8:00-10:01 p.m. – 8.7 million and 2.6/9 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” dominated its regular competition in the 2-hour time period in Adults 18-49, leading runner-up CBS by 13% (2.6/9 vs. 2.3/8). Head to head in the 9:00 p.m. hour, “Grey’s” towered over NBC’s “The Blacklist” by 2.1 million viewers (8.7 million vs. 6.6 million) and by 117% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/8 vs. 1.2/4).
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Coming in behind only the prior week’s best-since-premiere numbers, “Grey’s” turned around and delivered its 2nd-highest results since its mid-season return 3 months ago (on 1/29/15) with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
“American Crime” (10:01-11:00 p.m. – 3.6 million and 0.9/3in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC freshman “American Crime” was No. 2 in the hour among the major nets with Adults 18-49 (0.9/3-tie) and Women 18-49, while ranking No. 1 with Women 18-34.
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The ABC freshman drama is delivering strong TV playback. On average season to date in the Live + 7 Day ratings, “American Crime” jumps 54% in Adults 18-49 from its L+SD number (gaining 7-tenths) and delivers another 2.3 million viewers to its next-day tally.
Friday
Featuring “Shark Tank,” the debut of “Beyond the Tank” and “20/20,” ABC won its 2nd consecutive Friday of the 2015 May Sweep in Adults 18-49 (1.4/6), leading runner-up CBS with the season finale of “Blue Bloods” by 17% (1.2/5), NBC by 40% (1.0/4) and Fox by 100% (0.7/3). In fact, the Net was No. 1 on Friday for the 4th week in a row. Please Note: Overall Friday night Adult 18-49 TV Usage levels declined a sharp 9% week to week (25.6 vs. 28.0).
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ABC’s “Shark Tank” (1.6/7) and “Beyond the Tank” (1.6/6) tied as the night’s No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49. ABC’s “Beyond the Tank” was TV’s top-rated Friday debut in 1-1/2 years with Adults 18-49 – since 10/25/13.
“Shark Tank” (8:00-9:00 p.m. – 7.1 million and 1.6/7 in AD18-49)
At 8:00 p.m., ABC’s “Shark Tank” dominated its new earlier slot for the 2nd week in a row, beating its nearest competition (CBS’ “The Amazing Race”) by 1.6 million viewers (7.1 million vs. 5.5 million) and by 45% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/7 vs. 1.1/5).
“Beyond the Tank SP-5/1” (9:00-10:01 p.m. – 6.4 million and 1.6/6 in AD18-49)
Holding an impressive 100% of its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC’s debut of “Beyond the Tank” won its hour by 33% over its nearest competition (1.6/6 vs. 1.2/4 – CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0”).
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“Beyond the Tank” topped the series debut of “Shark Tank” in 2009 (4.2 million and 1.3/4 on 8/9/09) and outdelivered “Shark Tank’s” two-most-recent Adult 18-49 deliveries in the 9:00 p.m. hour (1.5/6 on 4/17/15 and 1.5/5 on 4/10/15).
“20/20” (10:01-11:00 p.m. – 4.4 million and 1.0/4 in AD18-49)
In the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC’s “20/20” tied NBC’s “Dateline” (9:00-11:00 p.m.) as the night’s top-rated newsmagazine in Adults 18-49 (1.0/4) and Adults 25-54 (1.5/5).
Sunday
ABC won its 2nd consecutive May Sweep Sunday in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5), beating Fox by 25% (1.2/4), CBS by 67% (0.9/3) and NBC by 88% (0.8/3). In fact, the Net was the broadcast leader in all 8 half-hours of the night with young adults. ABC’s season finale of “Secrets and Lies” ranked as Sunday’s No. 1 broadcast program in Adults 18-49.
“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (7:00-8:00 p.m. – 5.6 million and 1.4/6 in AD18-49):
In the 7 o’clock hour, ABC’s “America’s Funniest Home Videos” won its time period for the 2nd week in a row in Adults 18-49 over CBS’ “60 minutes” (+56% – 1.4/6 vs. 0.9/4).
“Once Upon a Time” (8:00-9:00 p.m. – 5.3 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49):
Growing from its lead-in at 8:00 p.m. (+21%), ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” won its hour by 31% over its nearest competitor in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6 vs. 1.3/4 – Fox), ranking No. 1 against its regular competition for its 9th consecutive original. “Once Upon a Time” grew to a 5-week high in viewers and matched a 6-week high in young adults – since 3/29/15 and 3/22/15, respectively.
“Secrets and Lies” (9:00-10:01 p.m. – 6.5 million and 1.8/5 in AD18-49):
Building on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC’s season finale of “Secrets and Lies” rose for the 3rd week in Total Viewers (+12% – 6.5 million vs. 5.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (+6% – 1.8/5 vs. 1.7/5) to deliver new series highs on both measures. From 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC’s “Secrets and Lies” beat NBC’s “A.D.” for the 3rd week in a row, leading by 64% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.1/3).
“Revenge” (10:01-11:00 p.m. – 4.8 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC’s “Revenge” (1.2/4) won the hour by wide margins over its drama competition on CBS (+71% over “Battle Creek” = 0.7/2) and NBC (+140% over “American Odyssey” = 0.5/2) in Adults 18-49. “Revenge” grew week to week in Total Viewers (+7% – 4.8 million vs. 4.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+20% – 1.2/4 vs. 1.0/3), drawing its biggest audience in 8 weeks and top young adult number since December – since 3/8/15 and 12/7/14, respectively.
WEEK NO. 32: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 ABC 1.5 No.1 CBS 8,310,000
No.2 CBS 1.3 No.2 ABC 6,480,000
No.3 NBC 1.2 No.3 NBC 5,590,000
No.4 FOX 1.0 No.4 FOX 3,400,000
No.5 CW 0.6 No.5 CW 1,540,000
Source: The Nielsen Company, National Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 04/27/15.
