ABC's "DWTS" Results Tops its Fall Opener to Win at 9p/"Body of Proof" Hits a Season High

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

With a Dancing recap show, followed by the Season 14 premiere of DWTS Results Show leading into Body of Proof, ABC ran a strong #2 on Tuesday to CBS, leading third-place NBC's all-original line up by 6.8 million viewers and by 28% in Adults 18-49. With DWTS Results Show and Body of Proof, ABC ranked #1 in each hour from 9-11pm in Adults 18-49.

From 8-9pm, ABC's special Dancing recap show (Dancing with the Stars: The Story So Far) took second place to CBS' top-rated NCIS, more than doubling the audience of NBC's time-period regular The Biggest Loser and leading by 6% in Adults 18-49.

· DWTS: The Story So Far drew the Net's biggest audience in the hour since October - since 10/11/11.

Boosting ABC up to #1 in the 9 o'clock hour, the season premiere of DWTS Results Show beat out CBS' NCIS: Los Angeles in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+3%). Outdelivering NBC and Fox by wide margins in Adults 18-49, the ABC dancing results show beat out the second hour of The Biggest Loser by 43% and the New Girl/Breaking In comedy combo by 50%. Tennis champion Martina Navratilova was the first celebrity voted off the show this season.

· ABC's DWTS Results Show was up over its Season 13 opener last fall in both Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+3%).

· Delivering huge week-to-week time-period improvement in Total Viewers (+283%) and Adults 18-49 (+114%), DWTS Results Show produced 4-month highs for ABC in the hour on both measures - since 11/22/11, with the Season 13 finale of DWTS.

In the 10 o'clock hour against CBS' Unforgettable and NBC's Fashion Star, ABC's Body of Proof finished #1 in Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and key Women (W18-49/W25-54).

· Up sharply over its most recent original in viewers (+33%) and young adults (+50%), ABC's Body of Proof drew its biggest audience of the season and achieved a 6-month high among Adults 18-49 (best since season premiere on 9/20/11).

Quick Take for Tuesday, March 27, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "Dancing" Recap Show Defeats NBC's "The Biggest Loser" from 8-9pm

Lifting ABC Up to No. 1 at 9pm, the Season 14 Premiere of "DWTS Results Show" Tops its Season 13 Opener and Delivers 4-Month Highs for the Net in its Time Slot

Finishing No. 1 in the 10pm Hour in Key Adults, ABC's "Body of Proof" Produces Its Biggest Audience of the Season and Achieves a 6-Month High in Adults 18-49

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

With a "Dancing" recap show followed by the Season 14 premiere of "DWTS Results Show" leading into "Body of Proof," ABC ran a strong No. 2 on Tuesday to CBS, leading third-place NBC's all-original lineup by 6.8 million viewers (11.9 million vs. 5.1 million) and by 28% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 1.8/5). With "DWTS Results Show" and "Body of Proof," ABC ranked No. 1 in each hour from 9:00-11:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49.

"Dancing with the Stars: The Story So Far" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's special "Dancing" recap show ("Dancing with the Stars: The Story So Far" = 10.4 million and 1.9/6) took second place to CBS' top-rated "NCIS," more than doubling the audience of NBC's time-period regular "The Biggest Loser" (5.3 million and 1.8/5) and leading by 6% in Adults 18-49.

· "DWTS: The Story So Far" drew the Net's biggest audience in the hour since October - since 10/11/11.

"DWTS Results Show" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Lifting ABC up to No. 1 in the 9 o'clock hour, the season premiere of "DWTS Results Show" beat out CBS' "NCIS: Los Angeles" in viewers (+4% - 15.3 million vs. 14.7 million) and young adults (+3% - 3.0/8 vs. 2.9/8). In fact, it was the 3rd time in its last 4 premieres for the "Results Show" to rank No. 1 in its slot on both counts. Outdelivering NBC and Fox by wide margins in Adults 18-49, the ABC dancing results show beat out the second hour of "The Biggest Loser" by 43% (2.1/5) and the "New Girl"/"Breaking In" comedy combo by 50% (2.0/5). In addition, "DWTS Results" finished as Tuesday's No. 1 TV show with Women 18-49. Tennis champion Martina Navratilova was the first celebrity voted off the show this season.

· ABC's "DWTS Results Show" was up over its Season 13 opener last fall (14.8 million and 2.9/7 on 9/20/11) in both Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+3%). Additionally in viewers and young adults, it was show's 2nd-strongest spring premiere in 4 years - since 3/25/08.

· Delivering huge week-to-week time-period improvement in Total Viewers (+283%) and Adults 18-49 (+114%), "DWTS Results Show" produced 4-month highs for ABC in the hour on both measures - since 11/22/11, with the Season 13 finale of "DWTS."

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

In the 10 o'clock hour against CBS' "Unforgettable" and NBC's "Fashion Star," ABC's "Body of Proof" finished No. 1 in Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 (tie) and key Women (W18-49/W25-54). In addition, ABC beat out NBC in the hour by season-best margins, as "Body of Proof" towered over "Fashion Star" by 6.0 million viewers (10.0 million vs. 4.0 million) and by 40% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.5/4).

· Up sharply over its most recent original in viewers (+33%) and young adults (+50%), ABC's "Body of Proof" drew its biggest audience of the season and achieved a 6-month high among Adults 18-49 (best since season premiere on 9/20/11).

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 43% currently, from 40% at the same point in 2011. 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), 03/27/12.