ABC Marks its Longest Monday Winning Streak Since 1997

With its winning combo of The Bachelorette and Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, ABC dominated Monday night by 1.4 million viewers (CBS) and by 60% among Adults 18-49 (Fox) over its nearest competition. Extending its winning streaks on the evening, ABC finished as Monday's most-watched television network for the 13th week in a row and ran #1 in Adults 18-49 for the 9th straight week. In fact ABC is generating its longest Total Viewer winning streak on the night in nearly 14 years - since a streak that ran from w/o 9/1/97 - w/o 12/22/97.

· The Net was up over same evening last year (6/7/10) in both viewers (+4%) and young adults (+4%), growing its overall audience year to year for the 7th straight Monday.

Surging week to week by double-digit percentages in viewers (+11%) and young adults (+18%), ABC's The Bachelorette won its time slot for the 3rd week running, outdelivering its closest competitors by 48% in Total Viewers (CBS) and by 73% in Adults 18-49 (Fox). In addition from 8-9pm, ABC's The Bachelorette overshadowed Fox's season opener of Master Chef by in Total Viewers (+3.4 million viewers) and Adults 18-49 (+33%). Steadily gaining audience throughout its broadcast, The Bachelorette grew by 1.0 million viewers and by 32% in Adults 18-49 from its first half-hour to its final half-hour.

· Monday's #1 TV show in viewers and young adults, ABC's The Bachelorette registered as the night's most-watched show overall for the 2nd week in a row.

· ABC's The Bachelorette was up over the same night last year in Total Viewers while holding 100% of its Adult 18-49 audience.

Retaining nearly all of its week-earlier debut audience (92%), ABC's Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition won its time period for the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49, beating NBC's original drama (L&O: LA) 69%. The new ABC unscripted series continued to exhibit strong retention of The Bachelorette's lead-in among Adults 18-34 (91%) and Adults 18-49 (85%), while building its audience from start to finish in both counts. EM: Weight Loss stood as the #2 broadcast program of the night in Adults 18-49, behind only ABC's The Bachelorette.

· ABC's EM: Weight Loss posted strong year-to-year improvement in the hour, up by 19% in Total Viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49 over original programming on the year-ago night.

Quick Take for Monday, June 6, 2011 (Fast Affiliate + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Leads Monday for the 13th Straight Week in Viewers and 9th Week in a Row in Adults 18-49, Hitting its Longest Total Viewer Streak in Nearly 14 Years

ABC's "The Bachelorette" Ranks No. 1 in its 2-Hour Slot in Viewers and Young Adults, Standing as Monday's Most-Watched Program for the 2nd Consecutive Week

"Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" Leads at 10pm in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd Week in a Row, Improving ABC's Year-Ago Performance in the Hour by 22%

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

With its winning combo of "The Bachelorette" and "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition," ABC dominated Monday night by 1.4 million viewers (7.2 million vs. 5.8 million - CBS) and by 60% among Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 1.5/4 - Fox) over its nearest competition. Extending its winning streaks on the evening, ABC finished as Monday's most-watched television network for the 13th week in a row and ran No. 1 in Adults 18-49 for the 9th straight week. In fact ABC is generating its longest Total Viewer winning streak on the night in nearly 14 years - since a streak that ran from w/o 9/1/97 - w/o 12/22/97.

· The Net was up over same evening last year (6.9 million & 2.3/7 on 6/7/10) in both viewers (+4%) and young adults (+4%), growing its overall audience year to year for the 7th straight Monday.

"The Bachelorette" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

Surging week to week by double-digit percentages in viewers (+11%) and young adults (+18%), ABC's "The Bachelorette" won its time slot for the 3rd week running, outdelivering its closest competitors by 48% in Total Viewers (8.0 million vs. 5.4 million - CBS) and by 73% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/8 vs. 1.5/4 - Fox). In addition from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelorette" overshadowed Fox's season opener of "Master Chef" by 3.4 million Total Viewers (7.7 million vs. 4.3 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/8 vs. 1.8/6). Steadily gaining audience throughout its broadcast, "The Bachelorette" grew by 1.0 million viewers (7.5 million to 8.5 million) and by 32% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 to 2.9/8) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour.

· Monday's No. 1 TV show in viewers and young adults, ABC's "The Bachelorette" registered as the night's most-watched show overall for the 2nd week in a row.

· ABC's "The Bachelorette" was up over the same night last year in Total Viewers (8.0 million vs. 7.9 million), while holding 100% of its Adult 18-49 audience (2.6/8).

"Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Retaining nearly all of its week-earlier debut audience (92%), ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" won its time period for the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49 (2.2/6), beating NBC's original drama ("L&O: LA" - 1.3/3) by 69%. The new ABC unscripted series continued to exhibit strong retention of "The Bachelorette's" lead-in among Adults 18-34 (91%) and Adults 18-49 (85%), while building its audience from start to finish in both counts. "EM: Weight Loss" stood as the No. 2 broadcast program of the night in Adults 18-49, behind only ABC's "The Bachelorette."

· ABC's "EM: Weight Loss" posted strong year-to-year improvement in the hour, up by 19% in Total Viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49 over original programming on the year-ago night ("True Beauty" - 4.8 million & 1.8/5).

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 41% 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), 6/06/11.