ABC Tops Monday for the 6th Week Running

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

With a shortened edition of DWTS, the return of Cougar Town and A Special Edition of 20/20, ABC posted another convincing 1st-place finish on Monday night, topping its nearest competitors by 5.3 million viewers (CBS) and by 16% in Adults 18-49 (Fox).

· ABC stood as Monday's most-watched television network for the 6th week in a row and won the night in Adults 18-49 for the 5th time in 6 weeks.

Shortening its duration week to week from a 2-hour format to a 90-minute format, ABC's Dancing with the Stars dominated each of its half-hours in viewers and young adults to win its time slot for the 5th week running. Building steadily throughout its broadcast, Dancing's numbers soared by 4.9 million viewers and by 44% in Adults 18-49 from its first half-hour to its final half-hour.

· Monday's #1 TV show in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC's DWTS finished as the night's most-watched program overall for the 5th straight week.

In the 9:30pm half-hour on its first telecast in more than 2-months (since 2/2/11), ABC's Cougar Town ran a strong second in its time slot among viewers and young adults, while ranking #1 across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· On its return, Cougar Town marked its most-watched telecast in more than 1-1/2 years - since 9/30/09.

During the 10 o'clock hour, A Special Edition of 20/20 - William & Catherine: A Modern Fairytale, anchored by Barbara Walters, ran a strong second in its hour to CBS' original Hawaii Five-0, beating NBC's original Law & Order: Los Angeles by an impressive 2.8 million viewers and by 55% in Adults 18-49.

· In Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54), 20/20 scored the highest numbers for any ABC newsmagazine telecast since the beginning of March - since 3/1/11.

Quick Take for Monday, April 18, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Standing as Monday's Most-Watched Net for the 6th Week in a Row

Dominating its Time-Slot for the 5th Week Running, "DWTS" Qualifies as Monday's No. 1 TV Show in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

On its Return, "Cougar Town" Draws its 3rd Most-Watched Telecast Ever and Leads its Time Period Across All Key Women Demographics

ABC's "20/20: William & Catherine: A Modern Fairytale" Tops NBC's "Law & Order: Los Angeles" by 2.8 Million Viewers and by 55% in Young Adults

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

With a shortened edition of "Dancing with the Stars," the return of "Cougar Town" and "A Special Edition of 20/20," ABC posted another convincing first-place finish on Monday night, topping its nearest competitors by 5.3 million viewers (13.8 million vs. 8.5 million - CBS) and by 16% in Adults 18-49 (2.9/8 vs. 2.5/7 - Fox).

· ABC stood as Monday's most-watched television network for the 6th week in a row and won the night in Adults 18-49 for the 5th time in 6 weeks.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:30 p.m.)

Shortening its duration week to week from a 2-hour format to a 90-minute format, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" dominated each of its half-hours in viewers and young adults to win its time slot for the 5th week running. Building steadily throughout its broadcast, "Dancing's" numbers soared by 4.9 million viewers (17.2 million to 22.1 million) and by 44% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/10 to 4.6/12) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour.

· Monday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers (19.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.9/11), ABC's "DWTS" finished as the night's most-watched program overall for the 5th straight week.

"Cougar Town" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour on its first telecast in more than 2-months (since 2/2/11), ABC's "Cougar Town" ran a strong second in its time slot among viewers (8.5 million) and young adults (2.3/6), while ranking No. 1 across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· On its return, "Cougar Town" marked its most-watched telecast in more than 1-1/2 years (since 9/30/09), recording the series' 3rd-largest audience ever.

"20/20: William & Catherine: A Modern Fairytale" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, "A Special Edition of 20/20 - William & Catherine: A Modern Fairytale," anchored by Barbara Walters, ran a strong second in its hour to CBS' original "Hawaii Five-0," beating NBC's original "Law & Order: Los Angeles" by an impressive 2.8 million viewers (7.7 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 55% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/4 vs. 1.1/3).

· In Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54), "20/20" scored the highest numbers for any ABC newsmagazine telecast since the beginning of March - since 3/1/11.

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 40% currently, from 36% at the same point in 2010. 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), 4/18/11.