ABC Draws 2nd-Largest Friday Audience of the Season

Finishing second on the night on the first Friday of the May 2011 Sweep, ABC posted week-to-week increases of 1.6 million (6.0 million vs. 4.4 million) and 17% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/5 vs. 1.2/4). In fact, ABC attracted its largest Total Viewer count on the night in nearly 4 months (since 12/31/10) and 2nd-largest audience overall of the season.

ABC was up over the year-ago Friday by 2.2 million viewers and by 17% among Adults 18-49 (3.8 million and 1.2/4 on 04/30/10).

At 8pm, ABC's Shark Tank topped NBC's original Friday Night Lights by 1.6 million viewers (4.6 million vs. 3.0 million) and by 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 0.6/2).

Shark Tank improved ABC's performance in the time period by 1.3 million viewers and by 33% in Adults 18-49 compared to the same night last year (3.3 million and 0.9/4 with an original Wife Swap).

From 9-11pm, A Special Edition of 20/20: A Modern Fairytale attracted 6.7 million viewers and a 1.6 rating, 5 sharing in Adults 18-49, turning in the Net's strongest numbers in the time period in nearly 4 months - since 12/31/10 and 1/7/11, respectively. Hosted by Barbara Walters, the special two-hour edition of "20/20" brought viewers a look back at the wedding watched by the world.

Head-to-head in the time-slot, 20/20 bettered NBC's Dateline by 1.8 million viewers (6.7 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5 vs. 1.2/4).

From its first hour to its second hour, 20/20 saw its audience grow in Total Viewers (6.6 million to 6.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 to 1.6/5), ranking #1 in the 10 o'clock hour in the key young adult demo.