Lost is Tuesday's #1 Scripted TV Show for the 3rd Week Running

Some early points for Lost ahead of the regular ratings release.

Despite facing the Winter Olympics this year, ABC was up over the year-ago Tuesday (2/17/09) for the 2nd-straight week, surging year-to-year by 2.0 million viewers (6.4 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 73% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 1.5/4).

Opposite fierce competition from NBC's Winter Olympics and the second hour of Fox's American Idol from 9-10pm, ABC's Lost jumped from its lead-in by 5.6 million viewers (9.8 million vs. 4.2 million) and by 200% in young adults (4.5/10 vs. 1.5/4) and grew its audience from start to finish (+6% in viewers/+9% in young adults). In fact in the preliminary Fast Affiliate Ratings, Lost defeated NBC Olympic coverage the 9 o'clock hour by 13% in Adults 18-34 (4.4/12 vs. 3.9/10) and by 41% in Men 18-34 (4.5/13 vs. 3.2/9). Despite the fact that both the Olympics and Idol moved into the time period this week, Lost exhibited impressive retention of its audience week to week with viewers, young adults and key men: Total Viewers (88%), Adults 18-49 (90%), Men 18-49 (92%) and Men 25-54 (92%). Lost stood as Tuesday's #1 scripted TV show for the 3rd week running in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and across key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

During the 10 o'clock hour against the Olympics, ABC's the forgotten finished as TV's #1 scripted show in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5).

Quick Take for Tuesday, February 16, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Up on Tuesday Year to Year for the Second Straight Week by 2.0 Million Viewers and by 73% in Adults 18-49

Jumping from its Lead-in and Building Throughout its Telecast, "Lost" at 9pm Stands as Tuesday's No. 1 Scripted Show in Adults 18-49 for the 3rd Week in a Row

ABC's "the forgotten" Finishes as TV's No. 1 Scripted Show at 10pm in Adults 18-49 With its Second-Best Young Adult Performance Since November

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

Despite facing the Winter Olympics this year, ABC was up over the year-ago Tuesday (2/17/09) for the 2nd straight week, surging year to year by 2.0 million viewers (6.4 vs. 4.4 million) and by 73% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 1.5/4).

"Lost" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Opposite fierce competition from NBC's Winter Olympics and the second hour of Fox's "American Idol" from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Lost" jumped from its lead-in by 5.6 million viewers (9.8 vs. 4.2 million) and by 200% in young adults (4.5/10 vs. 1.5/4) and grew its audience from start to finish (+6% in viewers/+9% in young adults). In fact in the preliminary Fast Affiliate Ratings, "Lost" defeated NBC Olympic coverage in the 9 o'clock hour by 13% in Adults 18-34 (4.4/12 vs. 3.9/10) and by 41% in Men 18-34 (4.5/13 vs. 3.2/9). Despite the fact that both the Olympics and "Idol" moved into the time period this week, "Lost" exhibited impressive retention of its audience week to week with viewers, young adults and key men: Total Viewers (88%), Adults 18-49 (90%), Men 18-49 (92%) and Men 25-54 (92%).

� "Lost" stood as Tuesday's No. 1 scripted TV show for the 3rd week running in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and across key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

"the forgotten" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour against the Olympics, ABC's "the forgotten" finished as TV's No. 1 scripted show in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5). In fact, the ABC freshman drama saw its second-best performance among young adults in 3 months � since 11/17/09.

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 35% currently, from 29% at the same point in 2009. 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), 2/16/10.