ABC's "Dancing" Finale Jumps 44% to Win Its Slot at Tuesday Highs

Boosted by the 16th season finale of Dancing with the Stars, ABC was the most-watched TV network on the final Tuesday of the season and finished a strong second in Adults 18-49. The Net also won the night in Adults 25-54 and key Women (W18-49/W25-54)

Leaping over its lead-in (The Bachelor Funniest Moments special) at 9pm and building from its first to second hour, ABC's grand finale of Dancing with the Stars won its 2-hour time period in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. Dancing was far and away Tuesday's most-watched TV show, outdrawing The Voice (9-10pm) by a season-best 4.9 million viewers. The Voice hit a Tuesday low against Dancing in viewers and young adults. Kellie Pickler was crowned champion of Season 16 and awarded the coveted mirror ball trophy. Soaring to the top of its final hour from 10-11pm, the Dancing led its nearest competition by 8.9 million viewers (CBS) and outdelivered runner-up NBC by 65% in Adults 18-49 with the season finale of Grimm.

· Spiking week to week by 25% in Total Viewers and by 44% in Adults 18-49, DWTS: The Results Show closed out with seasons highs on the night. In addition, the show delivered ABC's biggest audience in the time period in nearly 6 months - since 11/27/12.

Quick Take for Tuesday, May 21, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is the Most-Watched TV Network on the Final Tuesday of the Season

"The Bachelor's Funniest Moments" Earns a 6-Week Time Slot High in Adults 18-49

Jumping 44% Week to Week Among Adults 18-49, ABC's "Dancing" Finale Wins its 2-Hour Time Slot and Closes Out with Season Highs on the Evening

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

Boosted by the 16th season finale of "Dancing with the Stars," ABC (11.5 million and 2.1/6) was the most-watched TV network on the final Tuesday of the season and finished a strong second in Adults 18-49. The Net also ranked No. 1 on the night in Adults 25-54 and key Women (W18-49/W25-54)

"The Bachelor's Funniest Moments" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Growing the 8 o'clock hour week to week in viewers (+4% - 4.7 million vs. 4.5 million) and young adults (+9% - 1.2/4 vs. 1.1/4). "The Bachelor's Funniest Moments" special drew ABC's biggest audience in the slot in 4 weeks and delivered a 6-week high in Adults 18-49 - since 4/23/13 and 4/9/13, respectively.

"DWTS: The Results Show" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

Leaping over its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. and building from its first to second hour, ABC's grand finale of "Dancing with the Stars" won its 2-hour time period in Total Viewers (14.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.6/7). "Dancing" was far and away Tuesday's most-watched TV show, outdrawing "The Voice" (10.0 million from 9:00-10:00 p.m.) by a season-best 4.9 million viewers. "The Voice" hit a Tuesday low against "Dancing" in viewers and young adults. Kellie Pickler was crowned champion of Season 16 and awarded the coveted mirror ball trophy. Soaring to the top of its final hour from 10:00-11:00 p.m., "Dancing" led its nearest competition by 8.9 million viewers (16.1 million vs. 7.2 million for CBS) and outdelivered runner-up NBC by 65% in Adults 18-49 with the season finale of "Grimm" (2.8/8 vs. 1.7/5).

· Spiking week to week by 25% in Total Viewers (14.9 million vs. 11.9 million) and by 44% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 1.8/5), "DWTS: The Results Show" closed out with seasons highs on the night. In addition, the show delivered ABC's biggest audience in the time period in nearly 6 months - since 11/27/12.

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 48% currently, from 44% at the same point in 2012. 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), 05/21/13.