ABC's 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' Grows by Double Digits Week to Week in Adults 18-34

Despite airing mostly repeats on Wednesday, ABC held the No. 2 position for the 3rd straight week (w/o 4/7/14) with Total Viewers (6.2 million) and across all key Adult demos: AD18-34 (1.1/4-tie), AD18-49 (1.5/5-tie) and AD25-54 (1.9/5). In fact in Adults 18-49, ABC has finished No. 1 or No. 2 on 5 of the last 7 weeks.

Rankings: The Net delivered 6 of the Top 20 TV series in Adults 18-49, airing the No. 1 broadcast drama for the 6th week in a row: "Scandal" - No. 4 (No. 1 broadcast drama), "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 6, "DWTS" - No. 13, "Resurrection" - No. 14, "Once Upon a Time" - No. 17 and "S.H.I.E.L.D." - No. 20. For the 4th week in a row, ABC's "DWTS" was TV's most-watched unscripted show overall and outdelivered both editions of "American Idol" in Adults 18-49.

Up year to year in Total Viewers (+5% - 6.2 million vs. 5.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+15% - 1.5/5 vs. 1.3/4), ABC was the only broadcaster to post gains over the same week last year with young adults.

Monday
With "DWTS" and a repeat "Castle" up against CBS' NCAA Basketball Championship, ABC ranked a strong No. 2 on Monday in Total Viewers, topping NBC with originals of "The Voice" and "American Dream Builders" by 31% (12.6 million vs. 9.7 million). In addition, ABC continued to dominate Fox's original drama lineup on the night in Adults 18-49, leading by 27% (1.9/5 vs. 1.5/4).

"DWTS" was the night's most-watched TV series overall and ABC's repeat "Castle" was Monday's most-watched scripted telecast.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 14.5 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:00 p.m., against CBS' NCAA Basketball Championship, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" finished as Monday's most-watched TV series for the 4th week in a row, topping NBC's "The Voice" in head-to-head competition by a best-of-season 2.5 million viewers (14.5 million vs. 12.0 million). Among young adults in the time period, ABC's "DWTS" beat Fox's original dramas ("Bones"/"The Following") by 47% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 1.5/4) and by 45% in Adults 18-34 (1.6/5 vs. 1.1/4).

Despite the big competition, "DWTS" was up week to week in Total Viewers and paced within 1-tenth of its week-ago young adult number (14.1 million and 2.3/6). In addition, the show was up year to year against the NCAA Basketball Championship by 10% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (13.2 million and 2.1/6 on 4/8/13). In fact, "Dancing" was the only original program to grow its overall audience year to year opposite the championship game, as NBC's "The Voice" and Fox's "The Following" were down by -14% (12.0 million vs. 14.0 million) and -30% (4.4 million vs. 6.3 million), respectively.

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 9.0 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):
During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's repeat "Castle" was the No. 1 series with a 3.9 million viewer advantage over NBC's original "American Dream Builders" (9.0 million vs. 5.1 million). In fact, "Castle" was the most-watched scripted telecast of the night, outdrawing Fox's originals of "Bones" (6.6 million) and "The Following" (4.4 million). In Adults 18-49, the replay "Castle" (1.5/4) beat "The Following" (1.4/4) and nearly tied "Bones" (1.6/4). "Castle" delivered its most-watched encore ever - in its 6 seasons on the air.

Tuesday
"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (8:00-9:01 p.m. - 5.4million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):
During the 8 o'clock hour against originals of NBC's "The Voice" and CBS' "NCIS," ABC's "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." was on par with its week-ago Adult 18-49 rating, pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share (1.9/6 vs. 2.0/6). In addition, the show was up by double digits week to week in Adults 18-34 (+11%) and Women 18-34 (+21%). The ABC freshman drama won its hour with Men 18-34 (1.6/6), beating "NCIS" and "The Voice" (1.4/6-tie) to rank as the No. 1 scripted series in its hour for its 17th-straight original telecast. In fact, "S.H.I.E.L.D." is Tuesday's No. 1 TV show this season with Men 18-34, as well as the season's top-rated broadcast drama (tied w/NBC's "The Blacklist").

"S.H.I.E.L.D." boosted its hour by 58% for ABC year to year in Adults 18-49 over the year-ago night with original programming ("Splash" on 4/9/13 = 1.2/4).

"S.H.I.E.L.D." was Tuesday's No. 1 most social Primetime series across cable and broadcast with 63,826 tweets, up 124% from the prior week.

"The Goldbergs" (9:01-9:31 p.m. - 4.5 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):
During the 9:00 p.m. half-hour, ABC freshman "The Goldbergs" once again dominated Fox's sophomore "The Mindy Project," leading by 2.2 million viewers (4.5 million vs. 2.3 million) and by 40% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.0/3). The ABC comedy paced within 1-tenth of an Adult 18-49 rating point week to week.

"Trophy Wife" (9:31-10:00 p.m. - 2.8 million and 0.8/2 in AD18-49):
In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Trophy Wife" topped Fox's "The Mindy Project" in the half-hour for the 2nd week in a row with Total Viewers (+22% - 2.8 million vs. 2.3 million).

Thursday
ABC finished No. 1 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.4/8), tying CBS and beating Fox's original lineup by 71% (1.4/5). The Net drew its biggest audience on the night since October and hit a 6-week high in Adults 18-49 - since 10/31/13 and 2/27/14, respectively.

"Shark Tank-SP" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.8 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49):
During the 8 o'clock hour, the first night of a special 2-night "Shark Tank" event drew a season high in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (tie) for ABC with a series in the time slot. "Shark Tank" took second in The Hour among Adults 18-49, beating Fox's time-slot regular "Hell's Kitchen" by 21% (1.7/6 vs. 1.4/5). In addition, the ABC unscripted series nearly tied "American Idol" on the night in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6 vs. 1.8/6). Part 2 of the "Shark Tank" event will air in its regular time slot tonight, Friday 4/11/14, at 9:00 p.m.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.2 million and 2.6/8 in AD18-49):
Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+53%), ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (2.6/8) continued to win its hour by strong margins, beating runner-up CBS' comedies by 30% ("Two and a Half Men"/"Crazy Ones" = 2.0/6) and FOX with "American Idol" and "Surviving Jack" by 73% (1.5/5).

"Grey's" was up for the 3rd straight week in Adults 18-34 (+10%) for its best number since its mid-season return on 2/27/14.

In its 10th season, "Grey's Anatomy" is up over the same point last year in both Total Viewers (+5%) and Adults 18-49 (+2%), tracking as its most-watched season in 4 years - since the 2009/10 season.

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.2 million and 3.0/9 in AD18-49):
Growing from its lead-in with Adults 18-49 at 10:00 p.m. (+15%), ABC's "Scandal" (3.0/9) once again beat its combined drama competition in the hour, leading by 11% over CBS' "Elementary" (1.5/5) and NBC's "Parenthood" (1.1/3).

"Scandal" grew week to week in Adults 18-49 (+3%) and Adults 18-34 (+8%).

On average, "Scandal" is up 36% in Total Viewers and 43% in Adults 18-49 season to date, standing as TV's fastest growing returning series.

"Scandal" continued to dominate Thursday night as the most social series with 347,077 tweets, delivering close to 6 million tweets season to date.

Friday
ABC ranked No. 1 on Friday for the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49 (1.4/5), holding the top position on the night for the 6th time in 7 weeks. Please Note: Overall TV Usage levels on the night were down -4% week to week in Adults 18-49 (27.9% vs. 29.0%).

The second night of a 2-night "Shark Tank" event was the No. 1 TV program on Friday in Adults 18-49, growing 6% night to night (1.8/6 vs. 1.7/6). In fact, "Shark Tank" has now ranked as Friday's No. 1 TV series on 22 of 23 original telecasts this season in the key young adult sales demo.

ABC's "20/20" was the night's No. 1 news program, outdelivering NBC's News Special (8:00-9:00 p.m.) by wide margins in Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54).

"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:31 p.m. - 5.9 million and 1.2/5 in AD18-49): At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Last Man Standing" ranked No. 1 in its half-hour among Adults 18-49 (tied with Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares").

"The Neighbors" (8:31-9:00 p.m. - 4.1 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49): In the 8:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's season finale of "The Neighbors" grew week to week by 5% in Total Viewers and held even with its week-ago Adult 18-49 rating.

"Shark Tank" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 6.9 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):
Doubling its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49 (+100%), ABC's "Shark Tank" dominated its hour over all-original competition, beating CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" by 38% (1.3/5), NBC's "Grimm" by 64% (1.1/4) and Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" by 64% (1.1/4). On average, "Shark Tank" is up by double digits in Total Viewers (+14%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%) over the same point last year, trending as the series' strongest season ever.

"20/20" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 5.8 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49):
During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "20/20" ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5), beating CBS' "Blue Bloods" by 17% (1.4/5) and NBC's "Hannibal" by 114% (0.7/2). It was the ABC newsmagazine's 7th straight week as the No. 1 regular program in the hour. Growing season to date in Total Viewers (+21%) and Adults 25-54 (+5%), "20/20" is on track to deliver its most-watched season in 4 years - since the 2009-10 season.

Sunday
ABC tied for No. 1 on Sunday with a Masters Golf Tournament overrun-boosted CBS in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5), beating FOX by 21% (1.4/4) and NBC by 89% (0.9/3). Please Note: Overall Adult 18-49 TV usage was down -6% from the prior Sunday (33.9% vs. 36.0%).

ABC's "Resurrection" and "Once Upon a Time" stood as Sunday's Top 2 broadcast dramas in Adults 18-49. "Resurrection" was also the night's No. 1 broadcast series (tie)

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m. - 5.9 million and 1.3/5 in AD18-49):
During the 7:00 p.m. hour against the Masters Tournament overrun into "60 Minutes" on CBS, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" was a strong second in Total Viewers (5.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.3/5), beating NBC's "Dateline" (4.4 million and 0.8/3) and Fox's animated comedies ("Bob's Burgers"/"American Dad" = 2.1 million and 1.0/3).

"Once Upon a Time" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):
Jumping over its lead-in by 54% at 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Once Upon a Time" (2.0/6) ranked No. 1 against its regular competition for the 6th consecutive week among Adults 18-49. The ABC drama was once again the No. 1 most social broadcast series on Sunday night with 38,302 tweets.

"Resurrection" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 7.5 million and 2.1/5 in AD18-49):
During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Resurrection" (2.1/5) built on its lead-in to beat its regular broadcast competition by wide margins for the 6th week in a row in Adults 18-49, more than doubling NBC's "Believe" (+110% - 1.0/3), beating CBS by 40% ("Amazing Race"/"The Good Wife" = 1.5/4) and outdelivering Fox's "Cosmos" by 62% (1.3/3). "Resurrection" paced within 1-tenth of its week-ago Adult 18-49 rating and grew 7% in Adults 18-34 and 6% in Women 18-34.

Airing in Sunday's ultra-competitive 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Resurrection" continues to see increasing TV playback and, as a result, last week's telecast was up week to week in the Live + 3 Day ratings (after being down 2-tenths in the Live + Same Day numbers). The 4/6/14 telecast shot up by a best-yet +55% from L+SD to L+3 (vs. +33% the prior week). With bigger playback gains, "Resurrection's" actual Live + 3 Day Adult 18-49 rating was up week to week by 6% in Adults 18-49 (3.4 rating vs. 3.2 rating).

"Revenge" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 5.3 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):
During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Revenge" held steady week to week and beat NBC's "Crisis" by 18% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.1/3). In addition, the ABC drama was up over the prior week by 25% in Adults 18-34.

WEEK NO. 29: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 CBS 2.1 No.1 CBS 9,950,000
No.2 ABC 1.5 No.2 ABC 6,200,000
No.2 FOX 1.5 No.3 NBC 5,400,000
No.4 NBC 1.4 No.4 FOX 4,940,000
No.5 CW 0.3 No.5 CW 1,010,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 04/07/14. Nielsen Social, total tweets, as dated.