ABC Wins with the CMA Music Festival Drawing Its Biggest-Ever Audience on the Net

With its broadcast of the CMA Music Festival, ABC won Monday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, leading the night for the 3rd week in a row.

From 8-11pm, the CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock dominated its 3-hour time period, beating runner-up CBS by wide margins in viewers (+34%) and young adults (+43%). The CMA Music Festival spiked over last year's telecast by 44% in viewers and by 33% in Adults 18-49. In fact, the CMA Music Festival drew its biggest-ever audience on ABC and equaled a 7-year-high in Adults 18-49 (since 2006). The Net began airing the annual program in 2005.

Quick Take for Monday, August 12, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC Wins Monday Night for the 3rd Week in a Row

ABC's "CMA Music Festival" Spikes Year to Year By 44% in Total Viewers and 33% in Adults 18-49

"CMA Music Festival" Draws Largest-Ever Audience on ABC

"CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" (8:00-11:00 p.m.) With its broadcast of the "CMA Music Festival," ABC won Monday in Total Viewers (8.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/6), leading the night for the 3rd week in a row.

· From 8:00-11:00 p.m., the "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" dominated its 3-hour time period, beating runner-up CBS (6.1 million and 1.4/4) by wide margins in viewers (+34%) and young adults (+43%). The "CMA Music Festival" spiked over last year's telecast (5.7 million and 1.5/4 on 9/17/12) by 44% in viewers and by 33% in Adults 18-49. In fact, the "CMA Music Festival" drew its biggest-ever audience on ABC and equaled a 7-year-high in Adults 18-49 (since 2006). The Net began airing the annual program in 2005.

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 45% 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, 8/12/13.