Hitting Season-Highs, DWTS Results Soars to the Top of its Time Slot

DWTS Season 9 finale highlights ahead of the regular press release.

Hitting Tuesday season highs in Total Viewers (15.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.9/11), ABC finished #1 on the final Tuesday of the November Sweep in the key young adult sales demo.

In its 9 the season finale, ABC's DWTS Results marked season highs on the night in Total Viewers (19.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.3/12).

Dancing soared to the top of its 9-11pm time period, beating its nearest competition by 4.4 million viewers and by 23% in Adults 18-49 (CBS = 14.8 million and 3.5/10).

Quick Take for Tuesday, November 24, 2009 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Marking Season Highs on the Night with Viewers and Young Adults, ABC Is No. 1 on the Final Tuesday of the 09 November Sweep in Adults 18-49

Finishing as the Second-Most-Watched TV Show at 8pm to CBS' "NCIS," ABC Freshman "V" Tops Time-Slot Regulars NBC's "Biggest Loser" and Fox's "Dance"

Hitting Season-Highs on the Night, ABC's "DWTS" Finale Soars to the Top of its Time Slot, Beating No. 2 CBS by 4.4 Million Viewers and by 23% in Adults 18-49

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

Hitting Tuesday season highs in Total Viewers (15.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.9/11), ABC finished No. 1 on the final Tuesday of the November Sweep in the key young adult sales demographic.

"V" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

ABC freshman "V" (9.2 million) finished as the second-most-watched TV show in the 8 o'clock hour to CBS' top performer "NCIS," outdrawing time-period veteran NBC's "Biggest Loser" by 6% (8.7 million) and Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" by 53% (6.0 million).

Based on Nielsen's first round of data for the new series, ABC's "V" is showing enormous gains over its first-reported numbers through DVR playback, picking up an average +2.4 million viewers and an additional 1.0 Adult 18-49 rating point from the Live + Same Day number to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.

"Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

On its 9th season finale, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" pulled in an average audience of 19.2 million viewers and a 4.3 rating, 12 share with Adults 18-49. Singer, actor, TV presenter Donny Osmond was crowned Season 9 champion and awarded the coveted mirror ball trophy. Opposite stiff sweep competition during its 2-hour broadcast, including CBS' original dramas ("NCIS: LA"/"Good Wife"), as well as the second hours of NBC's "Biggest Loser" and Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," the season closer of "Dancing" towered over its closest time period competition (CBS) by 4.4 million viewers and by 23% in Adults 18-49 (14.8 million and 3.5/10).

"DWTS the Results" gained audience throughout its telecast, surging by 3.0 million viewers (17.5 million to 20.5 million) and by 21% in Adults 18-49 (3.9/11 to 4.7/13) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour.

"Dancing with the Stars the Results" hit season highs on the night in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

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 more than 33% currently, from 28% at the same point in 2008. 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: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 11/24/09. DVR Playback = w/o 11/2/09.