DWTS Results and V Mark Strong Year-to-Year Gains for ABC

Some early info on ABC's Tuesday, ahead of the regular press release.

DWTS the Results Show (8-9pm)

Once again improving its new earlier 8pm time period against Fox's American Idol, ABC's DWTS the Results Show outdrew NBC's Biggest Loser by 5.9 million viewers (12.2 million vs. 6.3 million) in the hour and tied the NBC program among Adults 18-49 (2.3/7). ABC's most-recent star of The Bachelor, Jake Pavelka was the 5th celebrity dancer eliminated from the contest this season. The dancing results program generated huge year-to-year gains in the hour for ABC, over the year-ago night with original programming, boosting the slot by +8.9 million viewers and by +130% in Adults 18-49 (3.3 million and 1.0/3 with originals of According to Jim). In fact on average among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, DWTS the Results Show is delivering ABC's strongest performance in the time period against American Idol in 7 years - since 2003.

V (10-11pm)

Building on its encore Lost lead-in by 6% among Adults 18-49, V continued to improve Tuesday's 10 o'clock hour for ABC, growing the hour by 19% over the year-ago night with original drama programming (1.9/5 vs. 1.6/4 - Cupid). V finished #1 against its CBS and NBC drama competition in the hour with Men 18-49 for the 5th consecutive week, topping originals of The Good Wife by 12% and NBC's Parenthood by 19%.

Quick Take for Tuesday, April 27, 2010 (National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

"DWTS the Results Show" Produces ABC's Strongest Results Against "American Idol" in the Tuesday 8 O'clock Hour in 7 Years

ABC's "Lost" Generates its Most-Watched Repeat Telecast in Nearly 2 Years

"V" Finishes No. 1 Against its 10pm Drama Competition in Men 18-49 for the 5th Straight Week, and is the Only Show to Grow its Slot Year to Year in Adults 18-49

"DWTS the Results Show" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Once again improving its new earlier 8:00 p.m. time period against Fox's "American Idol," ABC's "DWTS the Results Show" outdrew NBC's "Biggest Loser" in the hour by 5.9 million viewers (12.2 million vs. 6.3 million) and tied the NBC time period veteran among Adults 18-49 (2.3/7). ABC's most recent star of "The Bachelor," Jake Pavelka, was the 5th celebrity dancer eliminated from the contest this season.

· The dancing results program generated huge year-to-year gains in the hour for ABC over the year-ago night with original programming, boosting the slot by +8.9 million viewers and +130% in Adults 18-49 (3.3 million and 1.0/3 with originals of "According to Jim"). In fact on average among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "DWTS the Results Show" is delivering ABC's best numbers in the time period against American Idol in 7 years - since 2003.

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

An encore telecast of "Lost" registered the series' biggest audience (5.6 million) for any repeat telecast in nearly 2 years and its highest Adult 18-49 number (1.8/5) in well over 1 year - since 5/29/08 and 2/18/09, respectively.

"V-TUE" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

"V" finished No. 1 against its CBS and NBC drama competition in the hour with Men 18-49 (1.9/5) for the 5th consecutive week, topping originals of "The Good Wife" by 12% (1.7/5) and NBC's "Parenthood" by 19% (1.6/5). In addition "V" beat out CBS' "The Good Wife" for the 6th straight week among Adults 18-34.

· Building on its "Lost" lead-in by 6% among Adults 18-49, "V" continued to improve Tuesday's 10 o'clock hour for ABC, growing the slot by 19% over the year-ago night with original drama programming (1.9/5 vs. 1.6/4 - "Cupid"). In fact ABC was the only net to grow in the 10:00 p.m. hour year to year, as CBS (-12%) and NBC (-38%) were both down from the year-ago night.

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 36% currently, from 31% 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: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 4/27/10.