"Forever" Opens Strong at 10pm as ABC's Top Fall Series Debut in its Slot in 4 years - "SHIELD" Outdraws its May Finale

Tuesday (9/23/14) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Ratings/Projections

Dancing with the Stars: Results (8-9pm): Live + Same Day = 9.6 million and 1.6/6 - projected Live + 3 Day = 11.0 million and 1.8 rating - projected Live + 7 Day = 11.3 million and 1.9 rating

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (9-10pm): Live + Same Day = 5.6 million and 1.9/6 - projected Live + 3 Day = 8.3 million and 2.8 rating - projected Live + 7 Day = 9.2 million and 3.1 rating

Forever (10-11pm): Live + Same Day = 6.5 million and 1.7/5 - projected Live + 3 Day = 9.5 million and 2.5 rating and projected Live + 7 Day = 10.4 million and 2.7 rating

Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Highlights:

DWTS: The Results (8-9pm - 9.6 million and 1.6/6 in AD18-49): At 8pm against the premieres of CBS' NCIS and NBC's The Voice, ABC's Dancing with the Stars: The Results towered over Fox's Utopia by 7.7 million viewers (9.6 million vs. 1.9 million) and by 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/6 vs. 0.8/3). The ABC unscripted show gained viewers (+9%) and young adults (+13%) from start to finish.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (9-10pm - 5.6 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49): Building on its young adult lead-in (+19%) at 9pm against stiff competition, ABC's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was up from its May season finale in Total Viewers (+4% - 5.6 million vs. 5.4 million) and Adults 18-34 (+8% - 1.4/5 vs. 1.3/5), while holding steady in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 vs. 2.0/6). The drama marked its most-watched telecast since April - since 4/29/14.

· Against NBC's The Voice Tuesday premiere, CBS' NCIS: New Orleans debut and Fox's comedies, S.H.I.E.L.D. was the #1 scripted program in the hour among key Men (M18-34/M18-49).

Forever (10-11pm - 6.5 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49): Showing strong lead-in retention on its regular time period premiere at 10pm, ABC's Forever was up from the year-ago debut of Lucky 7 in the hour by 47% (6.5 million vs. 4.4 million) and 31% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.3/4). It was ABC's top rated Tuesday 10pm fall series debut in 4 years among Adults 18-49 - since 9/21/10. In addition, Forever retained 100% of its Monday preview in Adults 18-49 and was up 8% in Adults 18-34.

· From 10-11pm, Forever essentially tied CBS' Person of Interest in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.8/5), while beating the CBS drama in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

Quick Take for Tuesday, September 23, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "DWTS: The Results" Doubles the Delivery of Fox's "Utopia" in Adults 18-49

"S.H.I.E.L.D." Tops its May Finale in Total Viewers and Adults 18-34, While Ranking as the No. 1 Scripted Show in its Slot with Key Men

"Forever" Improves its Slot by Wide Margins Year to Year, Ranking as ABC's Top-Rated Tuesday 10pm Fall Debut in 4 Years in Adults 18-49

Tuesday (9/23/14) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"Dancing with the Stars: The Results":

Projected Live + 3 Day = 11.0 million and 1.8 rating - projected Live + 7 Day = 11.3 million and 1.9 rating

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.":

Projected Live + 3 Day = 8.3 million and 2.8 rating - projected Live + 7 Day = 9.2 million and 3.1 rating

"Forever":

Projected Live + 3 Day = 9.5 million and 2.5 rating - projected Live + 7 Day = 10.4 million and 2.7 rating

"Dancing with the Stars: The Results" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 9.6 million and 1.6/6 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., against the premieres of CBS' "NCIS" and NBC's "The Voice," ABC's "Dancing with the Stars: The Results" towered over Fox's "Utopia" by 7.7 million viewers (9.6 million vs. 1.9 million) and by 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/6 vs. 0.8/3). The ABC unscripted show gained viewers (+9%) and young adults (+13%) from start to finish.

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 5.6 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

Building on its young adult lead-in (+19%) at 9:00 p.m. against stiff competition, ABC's "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." was up from its May season finale in Total Viewers (+4% - 5.6 million vs. 5.4 million) and Adults 18-34 (+8% - 1.4/5 vs. 1.3/5), while holding steady in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 vs. 2.0/6). The drama marked its most-watched telecast since April - since 4/29/14.

· Opposite NBC's "The Voice" Tuesday premiere, CBS' "NCIS: New Orleans" debut and Fox's comedies, "S.H.I.E.L.D." was the No. 1 scripted program in the hour among key Men (M18-34/M18-49).

"Forever" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):

Showing strong lead-in retention on its regular time period premiere at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Forever" was up from the year-ago debut of "Lucky 7" in the hour by 47% (6.5 million vs. 4.4 million) and 31% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.3/4). It was ABC's top-rated Tuesday 10:00 p.m. fall series debut in 4 years among Adults 18-49 - since 9/21/10. In addition, "Forever" retained 100% of its Monday preview in Adults 18-49 and was up 8% in Adults 18-34.

· From 10:00-11:00 p.m., "Forever" essentially tied CBS' "Person of Interest" in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.8/5), while beating the CBS drama in 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 49% currently, from 48% at the same point in 2013. 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.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2013-14 season for premiere telecast or an average for originals (excluding the premiere).

Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).

New Series: Based on similar series.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 09/23/14.