ABC Airs Sunday's Top 2 TV Series in Adults 18-49

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

With a mix of repeat and original programming opposite CBS with the Academy of Country Music Awards, ABC finished a solid #2 on Sunday with viewers and young adults. Among Adults 18-49, ABC beat out Fox's Sunday schedule by 24% and NBC's original lineup by 31%. ABC's Once Upon a Time and Desperate Housewives stood as Sunday's Top 2 TV series with young adults.

Vaulting over its AFV repeat lead-in at 8pm (+125%), ABC's Once Upon a Time shot up to #1 in its hour in Adults 18-49, leading the slot for its 6th consecutive telecast. In fact, the Disney-owned drama finished as Sunday #1 TV series for the 2nd week in a row.

ABC's Desperate Housewives beat out its regular competition during the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, outdelivering Fox's animated comedies (Family Guy/American Dad) by 13% and the second hour of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice by 44%.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's GCB topped the final hour of NBC's 3-hour Celebrity Apprentice by 9% in Adults 18-34. It was the 5th straight week for the new ABC drama to rank as the #1 broadcast series in its slot with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

Quick Take for Sunday, April 1, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Delivers Sunday's Top 2 TV Series in Adults 18-49 With "Once Upon a Time" and "Desperate Housewives"

Vaulting Over its Lead-in at 8pm, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" Shoots to the Top Of its Hour with Adults 18-49, Winning its Slot for its 6th Consecutive Telecast

ABC's "Desperate Housewives" Defeats its Series Competition in the 9pm Hour

Beating "Celebrity Apprentice" Among Adults 18-34 in the 10pm Hour, "GCB" Qualifies as the No. 1 Broadcast Series in its Time Slot for its 5th Straight Airing

Sunday Night (7:00-11:00 p.m.)

With a mix of repeat and original programming opposite CBS with the "Academy of Country Music Awards," ABC finished a solid No. 2 on Sunday with viewers (7.0 million) and young adults (2.1/6). Among Adults 18-49, ABC (2.1/6) beat out Fox's Sunday schedule by 24% (1.7/5) and NBC's original lineup by 31% (1.6/4). ABC's "Once Upon a Time" and "Desperate Housewives" stood as Sunday's Top 2 TV series with young adults.

"Once Upon a Time" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Vaulting over its repeat "AFHV" lead-in at 8:00 p.m. (+125%), ABC's "Once Upon a Time" shot up to No. 1 in its hour in Adults 18-49 (2.7/8), leading the slot for its 6th consecutive telecast. In fact, the Disney-owned drama finished as Sunday's No. 1 TV series for the 2nd week in a row.

"Desperate Housewives" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Desperate Housewives" beat out its regular competition during the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49 (2.6/6), outdelivering Fox's animated comedies ("Family Guy"/"American Dad") by 13% (2.3/5) and the second hour of NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" by 44% (1.8/4).

"GCB" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "GCB" topped the final hour of NBC's 3-hour "Celebrity Apprentice" by 9% in Adults 18-34 (1.2/3 vs. 1.1/3). It was the 5th straight week for the new ABC drama to rank as the No. 1 broadcast series in its slot with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

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), 04/01/12.