ABC's "Body of Proof" Marks its 2nd-Most-Watched Telecast this Season

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

Opposite stiff competition at 8pm against CBS' top-rated NCIS and Fox's The X Factor special revealing the program's finalists, ABC's Last Man Standing topped NBC's The Biggest Loser by 4.5 million viewers and by 65% in Adults 18-49.

· Last Man Standing improved its time period for ABC by double-digit percentages over the same night last year with Total Viewers (+38%) and Adults 18-49 (+47%).

At 8:30pm against the second half-hours of NCIS and The X Factor special, ABC's Man Up! outdrew The Biggest Loser by 1.3 million viewers, topping the NBC veteran series for the 2nd week in a row. In addition, the new ABC comedy defeated the NBC unscripted show with Adults 25-54 (+13%), Adults 18-34 (+8%) and Teens 12-17 (+13%).

Building on its lead-in at 9pm and gaining audience throughout its broadcast, ABC's Dancing with the Stars: The Results ranked as the 2nd-most-watched TV show in its hour, outpacing Fox's The X Factor by 2.0 million viewers and NBC's The Biggest Loser by 8.2 million viewers. In addition, the ABC dancing results show also defeated the second hour of NBC's Biggest Loser by 25% in Adults 18-49. Chaz Bono was the sixth celebrity dancer to leave the ABC dance competition this season.

Building its overall audience for the 2nd week in a row despite going up against the final half-hour of Fox's 2-1/2 hour The X Factor special, ABC's Body of Proof generated its 2nd-most-watched telecast this season. The ABC sophomore also hit its 2nd-best results of the season with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Once again demonstrating stronger lead-in retention for ABC in the hour year over year, Body of Proof improved its time period over the same night last year by 1.2 million viewers and by solid margins across all key Women demos: W18-34 (+29%), W18-49 (+8%) and W25-54 (+9%).

Quick Take for Tuesday, October 25, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Opposite Fox's "The X Factor" Special, "Last Man Standing" Generates Substantial Time Period Improvement for ABC

ABC's Freshman "Man Up!" Outdraws NBC's Veteran "The Biggest Loser" at 8:30pm for the 2nd Straight Week

ABC's "DWTS: The Results" is the 2nd-Most-Watched TV Show at 9pm, Easily Topping its Unscripted Time Period Competition on Fox and NBC

Building its Total Viewer Count Two Weeks in a Row, ABC's "Body of Proof" Attracts its 2nd-Largest Audience This Season

"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

Opposite stiff competition at 8:00 p.m. against CBS' top-rated "NCIS" and Fox's "The X Factor" special revealing the program's finalists, ABC's "Last Man Standing" topped NBC's "The Biggest Loser 12" by 4.5 million viewers (9.8 million vs. 5.3 million) and by 65% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 vs. 1.7/5).

· "Last Man Standing" improved its time period for ABC by double-digit percentages over the same night last year ("No Ordinary Family" on 10/26/10 = 7.1 million and 1.9/5) with Total Viewers (+38%) and Adults 18-49 (+47%).

"Man Up!" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

At 8:30 p.m. against the second half-hours of "NCIS" and "The X Factor" special, ABC's "Man Up!" outdrew "The Biggest Loser" by 1.3 million viewers (6.7 million vs. 5.4 million), topping the NBC veteran series for the 2nd week in a row. In addition, the new ABC comedy defeated the NBC unscripted show with Adults 25-54 (+13%), Adults 18-34 (+8%) and Teens 12-17 (+13%).

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

Building on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. and gaining audience throughout its broadcast, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars: The Results" ranked as the 2nd-most-watched TV show in its hour (13.8 million), outpacing Fox's "The X Factor" by 2.0 million viewers (11.8 million) and NBC's "The Biggest Loser" by 8.2 million viewers (5.6 million). In addition, the ABC dancing results show also defeated the second hour of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" by 25% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/6 vs. 2.0/5). LGBT rights advocate and author Chaz Bono was the sixth celebrity dancer to leave the ABC dance competition this season.

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

Building its overall audience for the 2nd week in a row despite going up against the final half-hour of Fox's 2-1/2 hour "The X Factor" special, ABC's "Body of Proof" generated its 2nd-most-watched telecast this season (9.6 million). The ABC sophomore also hit its 2nd-best results of the season with Adults 18-34 (1.2/3-tie) and Women 18-34 (1.8/5).

· Once again demonstrating stronger lead-in retention for ABC in the hour year over year, "Body of Proof" improved its time period over the same night last year by 1.2 million viewers ("Detroit 1-8-7" = 8.4 million) and by solid margins across all key Women demos: W18-34 (+29%), W18-49 (+8%) and W25-54 (+9%).

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), 10/25/11.