ABC's Series Finale of ABC's NASHVILLE Delivers 6-Week High in Adults 18-49

With an encore telecast of Disney's "Finding Nemo" from 8:00-10:00 p.m. and the series finale of "Nashville" at 10:00 p.m., on the final Wednesday of the season/May Sweep, ABC ran in a near tie for No. 1 with NBC (3 drama finales) in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4 vs. 1.2/5), while matching CBS (1.1/4 - season finale of "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders") and beating FOX by 22% (0.9/3 - season finale of "Rosewood"/premiere of "Wayward Pines").

2016 May Sweep (28 Nights Complete L+SD - 4/28-5/25/16): ABC won its 3rd consecutive May Sweep in Adults 18-49 for the first time in over 24 years - predating the start of Nielsen's electronic database in September 1991. On average for the complete sweep in Adults 18-49, ABC (1.3/5) beat CBS by 8% (1.2/4), NBC by 18% (1.1/4) and FOX by 44% (0.9/3).

"Finding Nemo" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 4.2 million and 1.2/5 in AD18-49):
Opposite all-original programming from 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's encore broadcast of "Finding Nemo" drew an average audience of 4.2 million viewers and ranked No. 1 in its 2-hour time period with Adults 18-49 (1.2/5). In fact the Disney animated theatrical won its time slot in key Adults (AD18-49/AD18-34), key Women (W18-34/W18-49), Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.2 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC's series finale of "Nashville" built by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+14% - 4.2 million vs. 3.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+13% - 0.9/3 vs. 0.8/3), delivering its most watched telecast in 10 weeks and a 6-week high with young adults - since its mid-season return on 3/16/16 and 4/13/16, respectively.

Photo credit: ABC/ Mark Levine*