ABC's "Body of Proof" Surges at 10pm

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

With a Dancing encore special, DWTS: The Results and Body of Proof, ABC once again finished as the 2nd-most-watched net on Tuesday evening to CBS (NCIS/NCIS: LA/Unforgettable). The Net outdrew Fox on the night by 3.5 million viewers (Glee/New Girl/Raising Hope) and NBC by 6.0 million viewers (2-hour The Biggest Loser 12/Parenthood).

· ABC grew its overall Tuesday audience week to week and was also up over the same night last year.

In the 8pm hour, ABC's special DWTS: The Encore Performance ranked #2 to CBS' NCIS in Total Viewers, outdrawing Fox's Glee by 10% and the opening hour of NBC's The Biggest Loser by 65%.

Leaping over its lead-in and gaining audience throughout its telecast opposite stiff competition, ABC's Dancing with the Stars: The Results qualified as the most-watched TV show in the 9 o'clock hour, outrunning CBS (NCIS: LA), Fox (New Girl/Raising Hope) and NBC (The Biggest Loser). The broad-appealing ABC unscripted series ranked #2 in its time slot with Adults 25-54, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49, while delivering the #1 position with Women 25-54. In addition, Dancing made ABC the #2 broadcaster in the hour with Kids 2-11. The ABC unscripted series once again dominated its NBC unscripted competition in the hour, defeating the second hour of The Biggest Loser by 9.1 million viewers and 33% in Adults 18-49. Reality TV star Kristin Cavallari was the third celebrity contestant to be eliminated from the dance competition this season.

· Building week to week, DWTS: The Results marked its most-watched telecast this season.

Drawing its biggest audience this season and surging 17% week to week in Adults 18-49, ABC's Body of Proof ran #2 in the 10 o'clock hour, beating NBC's Parenthood by 5.2 million viewers and by 5% in young adults. In addition, The sophomore ABC drama finished #1 in its time slot with Women 18-49 and held the #2 position with Adults 25-54 for its 3rd consecutive telecast.

· Continuing to demonstrate much stronger lead-in retention for ABC in the hour year to year, Body of Proof boosted its time period over the same night last year by double-digit percentages in Total Viewers (+31%) and Adults 18-49 (+24%).

Quick Take for Tuesday, October 4, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Grows its Overall Tuesday Audience Week to Week and Year to Year

Hitting a Season High, "DWTS: The Results" is the Most-Watched Show at 9pm

Posting a Season High in Viewers and Surging 17% in Adults 18-49 Week to Week, ABC's "Body of Proof" Generates Big Year-Over-Year Time-Period Improvement

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

With a "Dancing" encore special, "DWTS: The Results" and "Body of Proof," ABC (11.4 million) once again finished as the 2nd-most-watched net on Tuesday evening to CBS ("NCIS"/"NCIS: LA"/"Unforgettable"). The Net outdrew Fox on the night by 3.5 million viewers ("Glee"/"New Girl"/"Raising Hope" = 7.9 million) and NBC by 6.0 million viewers (2-hour "The Biggest Loser 12"/"Parenthood" = 5.4 million).

· ABC grew its overall Tuesday audience week to week (11.1 million on 9/27/11) and was also up over the same night last year (11.2 million on 10/5/10).

"Dancing W/Stars SP-10/4" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

In the 8:00 p.m. hour, ABC's special "DWTS: The Encore Performance" (9.1 million) ranked No. 2 to CBS' "NCIS" in Total Viewers, outdrawing Fox's "Glee" by 10% (8.3 million) and the opening hour of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" by 65% (5.5 million).

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

Leaping over its lead-in and gaining audience throughout its telecast opposite stiff competition, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars: The Results" (14.8 million) qualified as the most-watched TV show in the 9 o'clock hour, outrunning CBS ("NCIS: LA" = 14.7 million), Fox ("New Girl"/"Raising Hope" = 7.6 million) and NBC ("The Biggest Loser" = 5.7 million). The broad-appealing ABC unscripted series ranked No. 2 in its time slot with Adults 25-54, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49, while delivering the No. 1 position with Women 25-54. In addition, "Dancing" made ABC the No. 2 broadcaster in the hour with Kids 2-11. The ABC unscripted series once again dominated its NBC unscripted competition in the hour, defeating the second hour of "The Biggest Loser" by 9.1 million viewers (14.8 million vs. 5.7 million) and 33% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7 vs. 2.1/5). Reality TV star Kristin Cavallari was the third celebrity contestant to be eliminated from the dance competition this season.

· Building week to week, "DWTS: The Results" marked its most-watched telecast this season.

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

Drawing its biggest audience this season and surging 17% week to week in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Body of Proof" (10.2 million and 2.1/5) ran No. 2 in the 10 o'clock hour, beating NBC's "Parenthood" (5.0 million and 2.0/5) by 5.2 million viewers and by 5% in young adults. In addition, the sophomore ABC drama finished No. 1 in its time slot with Women 18-49 (tie) and held the No. 2 position with Adults 25-54 for its 3rd consecutive telecast. ABC's "Body of Proof" was the only drama to grow week to week in the hour with viewers or young adults, as CBS' "Unforgettable" and NBC's "Parenthood" each declined.

· Continuing to demonstrate much stronger lead-in retention for ABC in the hour year to year, "Body of Proof" boosted its time period over the same night last year ("Detroit 1-8-7" = 7.8 million and 1.7/5) by double-digit percentages in Total Viewers (+31%) and Adults 18-49 (+24%).

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), 10/4/11.