Primetime Ratings Report for the week of February 18, 2013 (Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC Wins in Viewers and Adults 18-49 with its Strongest Week in 3 Years

ABC Airs 8 of the Week's Top 20 TV Shows in Adults 18-49, as "The Oscars" Ranks as the Season's No. 1 Entertainment Telecast

"The Bachelor" Hits New Season Highs for the 2nd Straight Week in Total Viewers & Adults 18-49, Earning the Franchise's Top Non-Finale Numbers Since March 2011

Up for the 2nd Consecutive Week, "Castle" Earns a New Season Best in Adults 18-49

ABC's "The Taste" Gains Over the Prior Week in Viewers and Young Adults

"The Bachelor: Sean Tells All" Ties ABC's Best Number in the Hour Since November

Tuesday at 10pm, ABC's Opener of "Body of Proof" Dominates NBC's "Smash"

With its Best Adult 18-34 Rating Since November, "The Middle" Beats "Survivor"

"The Neighbors" Earns its Top Numbers in 1 Month in Viewers and Young Adults

Up for the 2nd Week Running, ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted Show and Marks its Most-Competitive Finish Ever with "Idol"

ABC's "A Special Edition of 20/20: Mad About Oscar with Katie Couric" is Up In Total Viewers Over ABC's Oscar Special on the Same Night Last Year

"Grey's" is Up 11% to Finish as Thursday's No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49

"Scandal" is the No. 1 Series in its Slot in Adults 18-49 for its 9th Straight Airing

ABC's "Shark Tank" Stands as Friday's No. 1 TV Show Among Adults 18-49

Building for the 2nd Week, "20/20" Draws its Most-Watched Telecast in 2 Months

ABC Equals its Highest Rated Sunday in 6 Years Among Adults 18-49

ABC's "The Oscars" is Up Year to Year in Viewers and Adults 18-49 to its 2nd-Most-Watched Telecast Since '05, and Spikes to a 6-Year High in Adults 18-34

"The Oscars'" Online Usage and Social Activity Surges Year Over Year

Week No. 22

ABC won the week (w/o 02/18/13) by strong margins over its nearest competition in Total Viewers (+18% - 11.3 million vs. 9.6 million - CBS) and Adults 18-49 (+62% - 3.4/9 vs. 2.1/6 - Fox).

· ABC was the only major net up over the same week last year (w/o 2/20/12 = 10.7 million and 3.2/9) in viewers (+6%) or young adults (+6%).

· The Net produced its most-watched week overall and top in-season Adult 18-49 rating since the week of March 1, 2010.

Rankings: ABC's "The Oscars" finished as the week's No. 1 TV program in viewers and across all key demographic measures. In fact, it was the 2012-13 season's top entertainment telecast in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 and TV's most-watched entertainment broadcast overall in 3 years. The Net delivered 8 of the week's Top 20 TV shows in Adults 18-49: "The Oscars" - No. 1, "The Oscars Red Carpet Live-3" - No. 2, "The Oscars Red Carpet Live-2" - No. 5, "Modern Family" - No. 7, "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 14, "The Bachelor" - No. 15, "The Oscars Red Carpet Live-1" - No. 16 and "Scandal" - No. 20. In fact, ABC's Thursday hit, "Scandal," finished as the week's No. 1 10 o'clock show in Adults 18-49. ABC's "20/20" was the week's No. 1 newsmagazine for the 2nd week running in Adults 18-49 (tie) and Adults 25-54.

Monday

Building on the night, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV network (9.5 million) and ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7 - tied w/CBS). In Adults 18-49, the Net earned a Monday season high with series programming on the night to its best number since March 26, 2012.

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:01 p.m.)

Earning season bests for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "The Bachelor" defeated NBC's "The Biggest Loser 14" by its biggest margins yet in Total Viewers (+63% - 9.3 million vs. 5.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+43% - 3.0/8 vs. 2.1/5). Up week to week in Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 18-49 (+11%), "The Bachelor" achieved new season highs with the franchise's top non-finale numbers in nearly 2 years - since 3/7/11.

· Continuing to improve year to year, "The Bachelor" was up over the same night last year by 1.1 million viewers and by 20% in Adults 18-49 (8.2 million and 2.5/6 on 2/20/12).

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Castle" won the 10 o'clock hour, beating CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" by 9% in Total Viewers (9.9 million vs. 9.1 million) and by 15% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 2.0/5). It was Monday's most-watched drama overall. Increasing 15% in Adults 18-49 and up for the 2nd week in a row, "Castle" achieved a new season high. The ABC drama also posted a new season high with Adults 18-34 for the 2nd week running to its best number in nearly 1 year - since 2/27/12.

Tuesday

ABC (1.8/5) beat Fox on Tuesday night by 13% (1.6/4) and NBC by 64% (1.1/3) among Adults 18-49.

· The Net grew over the year-ago night (also an all-original lineup) by 12% in Total Viewers (6.5 million vs. 5.8 million) and by 6% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.7/5).

"The Taste" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's "The Taste" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+4% - 4.8 million vs. 4.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.6/5 vs. 1.5/4).

"The Bachelor: Sean Tells All" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "The Bachelor: Sean Tells All" took second to CBS' "NCIS: LA" in Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.6/7), nearly catching the CBS drama with young adults (pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share). The ABC unscripted series ranked No. 1 in the hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· "The Bachelor: Sean Tells All" was up over the year-ago "Tell All" by 4% (2.5/6 on 3/5/12) in Adults 18-49 and tied ABC's best number in the hour since November - since 11/27/12.

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

At 10:00 p.m., the season premiere of "Body of Proof" defeated NBC's "Smash" by 3.5 million viewers (6.8 million vs. 3.3 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/3 vs. 0.9/2).

· "Body of Proof" increased its overall audience from the same night last year (+3% - 6.6 million on 02/21/12).

Wednesday

Up for the 2nd straight week, ABC's "Modern Family" once again finished as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). In addition, "Modern Family" matched its most-competitive finish ever against Fox's "American Idol" in Adults 18-49, coming within 1-tenth of a rating point of catching the Fox show, while tying in audience share (4.0/11 vs. 4.1/11).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

Against the opening half-hours of "Idol" and "Survivor" at 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" nearly tied "Survivor" in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 vs. 2.4/7 - pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share), while increasing its advantage over the CBS unscripted series in Adults 18-34 to 42% (up from 18% the prior week). In addition, the ABC comedy outdelivered NBC's "Whitney" by a best-ever 5.2 million viewers (8.3 million vs. 3.1 million) and by 109% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 vs. 1.1/3).

· Up over the prior week by 8% in Total Viewers and by 21% in Adults 18-49, "The Middle" grew to its best numbers since January 23, 2013. In addition, the show surged 31% in Adults 18-34 to equal its best number since the beginning of November - since 11/7/12.

"The Neighbors" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Also improving week to week at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Neighbors" took full control of its comedy competition, defeating NBC's "Guys with Kids" by its biggest margins ever of 125% in Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 2.8 million) and 90% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.0/3).

· Increasing week to week in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+12%), "The Neighbors" posted its best results in 1 month - since 1/23/13. The new ABC family comedy earned its 2nd-highest rating ever with Kids 2-11.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:31 p.m.)

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+111%), ABC's "Modern Family" (4.0/11) beat its nearest scripted competition the half-hour by 54% (CBS' "Criminal Minds" = 2.6/7). The ABC comedy ranked as the No. 1 TV show of the night across all key Men demos (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

· Up for the 2nd week running, "Modern Family" gained 6% in Total Viewers and 5% in Adults 18-49.

"Suburgatory" (9:31 -10:00 p.m.)

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Suburgatory" beat out NBC's "L&O: SVU" by 18% Adults 18-49 (2.0/5 vs. 1.7/4).

· Improving its slot year to year, "Suburgatory" drew 6% more viewers for ABC to the half-hour this year (5.7 million vs. 5.4 million).

"A Special Edition of 20/20: Mad About Oscar with Katie Couric" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "A Special Edition of 20/20: Mad About Oscar with Katie Couric" was up over the year-ago ABC Oscar special in the hour by 4% in Total Viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.8 million on 2/22/12).

Thursday

"Zero Hour" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Up against "Idol" and CBS' top-rated comedies ("The Big Bang Theory"/"Two and a Half Men"), ABC's "Zero Hour" (5.4 million) drew 2.3 million more viewers than NBC's comedies ("Community"/"Parks and Recreation" = 3.1 million).

· "Zero Hour" held 100% of its week-ago series debut numbers in both Adults 18-34 and Men 18-34.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:02 p.m.)

Shooting up from its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+182%) against the second hour of "Idol," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" moved up to rank as the top scripted show in its slot among Adults 18-49 and stood as Thursday's No. 1 drama. During the 9 o'clock hour, "Grey's" (3.1/8) outdelivered CBS' "Person of Interest" by 7% (2.9/7) and NBC's comedies by 158% ("Parks and Recreation"/"1600 Penn" = 1.2/3).

· Although facing "Idol" in the hour this week, "Grey's" was up by 11% in Adults 18-49 over the prior week to match its best number in 6 weeks - since 1/10/13. "Scandal" (10:02-11:00 p.m.) Holding steady week to week, ABC's "Scandal" led the 10:00 p.m. hour in Adults 18-49 by 13% over CBS' "Elementary" (2.7/7 vs. 2.4/7) to finish as the No. 1 series in its slot for its 9th telecast in a row. In its last eight original broadcasts, "Scandal" has earned the series' Top 8 highest-rated airings in Adults 18-49 and 7 of its most-watched overall.

· For its 6th straight telecast, the ABC sophomore drama improved its hour year to year in Total Viewers (+22% - 7.7 million vs. 6.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+29% - 2.7/7 vs. 2.1/6).

· Consistently one of the most active shows on Twitter each Thursday, "Scandal" has generated 2.287 million tweets this season. Spiking 13% week to week (221,747 vs. 196,902), the hit ABC drama captured its 3rd-highest number of tweets for any airing this season.

Friday

ABC won the final Friday of the February Sweep over its network rivals in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5), leading CBS by 7% (1.4/4), NBC by 15% (1.3/4) and Fox by 67% (0.9/3). The Net's "Shark Tank" was the No. 1 TV show of the evening in the key young adult sales demo. Season to date, ABC is Friday's top-rated network in Adults 18-49, gaining over the comparable weeks last year by 21% to its strongest performance on the night in 4 years - since the 2008-09 season.

"Last Man Standing"/"Malibu Country" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's "Last Man Standing" and "Malibu Country" outdelivered Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" by 2.5 million viewers (5.6 million vs. 3.1 million) and by 9% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 1.1/4).

"Shark Tank" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)

Building on its lead-in by 73% and growing week to week (+6%), ABC's "Shark Tank" won the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6), outdelivering the second hour of NBC's 2-hour "Dateline" by 27% (1.5/5), CBS' "CSI: NY" season finale by 58% (1.2/4) and Fox's "Touch" by 171% (0.7/2). On average, "Shark Tank" is up by 17% with young adults, marking its best season ever.

"20/20" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "20/20" finished as Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in the key Adult 25-54 news demo (1.9/5), defeating both NBC's 2-hour "Dateline" (1.8/5) and "Rock Center with Brian Williams" (1.4/4). Head to head from 10:00-11:00 p.m., "20/20" beat NBC's "Rock Center with Brian Williams" by wide margins in Total Viewers (+29% - 5.8 million vs. 4.9 million), Adults 25-54 (+36% - 1.9/5 vs. 1.4/4) and Adults 18-49 (+40% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.0/3). "20/20" took viewers on a candid, inspiring and intimate journey inside Robin Roberts' challenging fight against myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare blood disorder. Building for the 2nd week, the ABC newsmagazine earned its most-watched telecast since December 14, 2012.

Sunday

With its broadcast of "The Oscars," ABC more than tripled its combined network competition on Sunday evening in young adults. During primetime, ABC outdrew the other networks combined by 21.1 million viewers (32.5 million vs. 11.4 million - CBS, NBC and Fox) and by 216% in Adults 18-49 (10.1/26 vs. 3.2/8).

· The Net produced its most-watched Sunday in 3 years and equaled its top Adult 18-49 number on the night in 6 years - since 3/7/10 and 2/25/07, respectively.

"Oscars Red Carpet Live" (7:00 - 8:30 p.m.)

All 3 segments of ABC's "Oscars Red Carpet Live" pre-show were up year to year among young adults, with the final half-hour pulling in 25.5 million viewers and a 7.3/20 in Adults 18-49.

"The Oscars" (8:30-11:40 p.m.)

ABC's broadcast of "The Oscars" drew an average audience of 40.4 million Total Viewers and delivered a 13.0 rating, 31 share among Adults 18-49. The 2013 "Oscars" is TV's most-watched entertainment telecast in 3 years - since 3/7/10.

· "The Oscars" grew its overall audience for the 2nd straight year (+1.1 million - 40.4 million vs. 39.3) and surged 11% in Adults 18-49 (13.0/31 vs. 11.7/27) to its best numbers since 2010. Overall, it was the "Oscars'" 2nd-most-watched telecast since 2005. In addition the Seth MacFarlane-hosted show scored big gains year to year with Adults 18-34 (+19% - 11.3/32 rating vs. 9.5/25 rating), hitting its highest number in 6 years - since 2007. In addition the show posted strong double-digit year-to-year growth across all key Men: M18-34 +34%, M18-49 +16% and M25-54 +11%.

· TV's biggest awards show, ABC's "The Oscars" towered over other awards shows this year, outdrawing the 2013 "Golden Globe Awards" by 20.7 million viewers and 103% in Adults 18-49 (19.7 million/6.4 rating in AD18-49) and the 2013 "Grammy Awards" by 12.0 million viewers and 29% in Adults 18-49 (28.4 million/10.1 rating in AD18-49).

· With the "Oscars Red Carpet Live" pre-show, "The Oscars" telecast and "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars," ABC's "Oscar" programming on Sunday reached 80.748 million unique television viewers across the U.S. - unduplicated Viewers 2+ watching 6-minutes or more during the broadcast.

"Oscar.com" and "Oscar App"

"Oscar.com" and the "Oscar App" generated substantial year-over-year growth. The number of visitors to "Oscar.com" since the nomination announcement (15.8 million) surged 28% over 2012, and the "Oscar App" was downloaded 432,000 times, representing a 16% jump over last year. On "Oscar" Sunday alone, 4.6 million people visited "Oscar.com" or used an "Oscar App." Overall users consumed over 33.4 million minutes of digital content on Sunday.

Social Activity (SocialGuide)

According to Social Guide, there were 6.4 million tweets with 1.6 million unique users, as overall "Oscar" activity outpaced last year by 68% (6.4 million vs. 3.8 million).

Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings), week of 02/18/13.