ABC Finishes #2 on Tuesday in Viewers/"Body of Proof" Tops its Season Finale by Double Digits

Some early info on ABC's season premiere Tuesday, ahead of the regular press release:

With a Dancing special, and the season premieres of DWTS: The Results and Body of Proof, ABC qualified as the 2nd-most-watched TV network on season-premiere Tuesday to CBS (NCIS/NCIS: LA/Unforgettable). ABC outdrew season premiere programming on Fox by 2.9 million viewers (Glee/New Girl/Raising Hope), while doubling NBC's audience on the night (+100% ahead of the 2-hour season premiere of The Biggest Loser and Parenthood).

From 8-9pm, ABC's DWTS: Meet the Cast ranked #2 to CBS' top-rated NCIS premiere in Total Viewers, topping Fox's season opener of Glee by 1.8 million viewers and the opening hour NBC's The Biggest Loser 12 premiere by 4.6 million viewers.

Building on its lead-in and gaining audience throughout its telecast against stiff competition, the season opener of ABC's Dancing with the Stars: The Results finished as the 2nd-most-watched program in the 9 o'clock hour, topping Fox (New Girl/Raising Hope) and NBC (The Biggest Loser). The ABC dancing results show also delivered the #2 position in the time period with Women 18-34 and ranked #1 with Women 25-54. ABC's DWTS: The Results outdelivered its unscripted competition in the hour by solid margins, leading the second hour of NBC's The Biggest Loser premiere by 8.3 million viewers and by 17% in Adults 18-49. NBA champion Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest) was the first celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition this season.

Showing strong lead-in retention, ABC's season premiere of Body of Proof earned second place in the 10 o'clock hour, topping NBC's Parenthood by 4.4 million viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49. The sophomore ABC drama also ranked #2 in the hour with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Rising over its season finale in May by double-digit percentages with Adults 18-49 (+10%) and Adults 18-34 (+17%), Body of Proof posted its strongest performance since mid-April on both young adult measures - since 4/19/11 and 4/12/11, respectively. In addition, Body of Proof equaled the series' 2nd-highest-ever Women 18-34 rating, hitting its best number since its series debut (on 3/29/11).

· Among Adults 18-49 (82%), Body of Proof exhibited its best-ever lead-in retention coming out of DWTS: The Results.

Quick Take for Monday, September 20, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is the 2nd-Most Watched Net on the Opening Tuesday of the Season

Building Sharply on its Lead-in and Gaining Audience Throughout its Opener, "DWTS: The Results" Outdraws its Fox and NBC Competition by Wide Margins

Showing Impressive Lead-in Retention, ABC's "Body of Proof" Premiere Tops its Season Finale by Double-Digit Percentages with its Best Numbers Since Mid-April

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

With a "Dancing" special and the season premieres of "DWTS: The Results" and "Body of Proof," ABC (11.6 million) qualified as the 2nd-most-watched TV network on season-premiere Tuesday to CBS ("NCIS"/"NCIS: LA"/"Unforgettable"). ABC outdrew premiere programming on Fox by 2.9 million viewers ("Glee"/"New Girl"/"Raising Hope" = 8.7 million), while doubling NBC's audience on the night (+100% ahead of the 2-hour season premiere of "The Biggest Loser" and "Parenthood" = 5.8 million).

"DWTS: Meet the Cast" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's "DWTS: Meet the Cast" (10.7 million) ran No. 2 to CBS' top-rated "NCIS" premiere in Total Viewers, topping Fox's season opener of "Glee" by 1.8 million viewers (8.9 million) and the opening hour of NBC's "The Biggest Loser 12" premiere by 4.6 million viewers (6.1 million).

"Dancing with the Stars: The Results" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Building sharply on its lead-in and gaining audience throughout its telecast against stiff competition, the season opener of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars: The Results" (14.5 million) finished as the 2nd-most-watched program in the 9 o'clock hour, topping Fox ("New Girl"/"Raising Hope" = 8.5 million) and NBC ("The Biggest Loser" = 6.2 million). The ABC dancing results show also delivered the No. 2 position in the time period with Women 18-34 and ranked No. 1 with Women 25-54. ABC's "DWTS: The Results" outdelivered its unscripted competition in the hour by solid margins, leading the second hour of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" premiere by 8.3 million viewers (14.5 million vs. 6.2 million) and by 17% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7 vs. 2.4/6). NBA champion Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest) was the first celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition this season.

"Body of Proof" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Showing its best-ever young adult lead-in retention, ABC's season premiere of "Body of Proof" earned second place in the 10 o'clock hour, topping NBC's "Parenthood" by 4.4 million viewers (9.7 million vs. 5.3 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 2.1/6). The sophomore ABC drama also ranked No. 2 in the hour with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Rising over its season finale in May by double-digit percentages with Adults 18-49 (+10%) and Adults 18-34 (+17%), "Body of Proof" posted its strongest performance since mid-April on both young adult measures - since 4/19/11 and 4/12/11, respectively. In addition, "Body of Proof" equaled the series' 2nd-highest-ever Women 18-34 rating, hitting its best number since its series debut (on 3/29/11).

· Among Adults 18-49 (82%), "Body of Proof" delivered its best-ever lead-in retention coming out of "DWTS: The Results."

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 42% currently, from 38% 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), 9/20/11.