ABC Dominates Competition with Most-Watched Week in 4 Years

ABC's "The Oscars" finished as the week's No. 1 TV program in viewers and across all key demographic measures. In fact, it was the 2013-14 season's top entertainment telecast in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 and TV's most-watched entertainment broadcast in nearly 10 years. The Net delivered 9 of the week's Top 20 TV shows in Adults 18-49, placing 7 in the Top 10 and claiming the No. 1 broadcast drama with the return of "Scandal:" "The Oscars" - No. 1, "The Oscars Red Carpet Live-3" - No. 2, "The Oscars Red Carpet Live-2" - No. 6, "Scandal" - No. 9, "Modern Family," "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Oscars Red Carpet Live-1" tied at No. 10, while "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelor SP-2/25" tied at No. 18. ABC's "20/20" once again ranked as the top-rated newsmagazine in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, leading for the 5th week in a row with young adults.

Monday
With "The Bachelor" and "Castle," ABC took second place on Monday to NBC (season premiere of "The Voice" and "Blacklist") in Total Viewers (8.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.2/6). Among Adults 18-49, ABC beat original line-ups on CBS by 5% (2.1/6) and on FOX by 38% (1.6/4).

Building for the 2nd week, the Net gained 8% in viewers and 5% in young adults from the prior Monday (7.7 million and 2.1/6 on 2/17/14).

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 8.2 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49):
Despite facing NBC's season opener of "The Voice" from 8:00-10:01 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelor" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%) to earn 3-week highs - since 2/3/14. In addition, the show hit best-since premiere ratings in key Women (W18-34/W18-49) - since 1/6/14. The ABC unscripted series continued to dominate Fox's original dramas ("Almost Human"/"The Following") in the 2-hour time period, leading by a best-ever 58% in Total Viewers (8.2 million vs. 5.2 million) and 56% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/7 vs. 1.6/4).

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 8.7 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):
During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" increased 12% week to week in Total Viewers, while holding steady in Adults 18-49. In its time period, "Castle" bested CBS' "Intelligence" by 61% in Total Viewers (8.7 million vs. 5.4 million) and by 42% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.2/3). Season to date, "Castle" is up by double digits in Total Viewers (+13% - 13.0 million vs. 11.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+12% - 2.8/8 vs. 2.5/7) over the same point a year ago, tracking as the series' best season ever.

Tuesday
"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.1 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:00 p.m., part 2 of "The Bachelor" 2-night event delivered ABC's strongest results in the 2-hour time period since November in Total Viewers and October in Adults 18-49 - since 11/26/13 and 10/01/13, respectively. The show held even with its numbers from part 1 on Monday night in viewers and young adults. The ABC unscripted series was the No. 2 TV show of the night among Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54), behind only NBC's season premiere of "The Voice."

"Mind Games" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.6 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49):
During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's debut of "Mind Games" opened with a 5-month high for a regular series in the time slot among Adults 18-49 - since 9/24/13. In addition, "Mind Games" was up 22% in Adults 18-49 from ABC's most recent series debut in The Hour ("Killer Women" = 0.9/2 on 01/07/14).

Wednesday
With its Wednesday line-up returning to all originals for the first time in 3 weeks, ABC claimed the night's top-rated show in Adults 18-49, with "Modern Family" (3.1/9) outdelivering Fox's "American Idol" by 15% (2.7/8) and CBS' season opener of "Survivor" by 29% (2.4/7).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.0 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):
At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" ranked as the highest-rated scripted show in its half-hour among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):
At 8:30 p.m. like its lead-in, "Suburgatory" was the No. 1 scripted program in its slot with viewers and young adults.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:31 p.m. - 8.5 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49):
More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+121%), ABC's "Modern Family" won its half-hour by double digits over Fox's "American Idol" (+15% - 2.7/8), CBS' "Survivor" (+29% - 2.4/7) and NBC's "L&O: SVU" (+63% - 1.9/5).

"Mixology" (9:31-10:00 p.m. - 5.0 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):
In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's debut of "Mixology" earned the Net's best series numbers in the time slot in 2-1/2 months in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 - since 12/11/13. In addition, with viewers and young adults (58%/55%), "Mixology" delivered the best audience retention in the half-hour out of an original "Modern Family" since early-October - since 10/9/13.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.8 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):
During the 10:00 p.m. hour, "Nashville" held even with its last original telecast 3 weeks ago in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4), while growing 10% in Adults 18-34 and 25% in Women 18-34. The ABC sophomore drama continues to deliver huge gains via time-shifted TV playback. For its most recent original telecast in the Live + 7 Day ratings (w/o 2/3/14), "Nashville" nearly doubled its Live + Same Day Adult 18-49 number (+92% - going from a 1.3 rating to a 2.5 rating) to stand as the week's biggest percentage gainer on broadcast. It was the show's 2nd-biggest-ever percentage lift.

Thursday
With a "Countdown to the Oscars" special and the mid-season returns of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" (after a 2-1/2 month break), ABC finished in a near-tie for No. 1 in Adults 18-49 on Thursday with CBS (pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point - 2.5/7 vs. 2.6/8) and hit a 4-month high on the night - since 10/31/13. In addition, the Net won the night in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

ABC's "Scandal" (3.4/10) and "Grey's Anatomy" (3.1/9) finished as the No. 2 and No. 3 TV shows of the night in Adults 18-49, behind only CBS' top-rated "The Big Bang Theory" and paced well ahead of Fox's "American Idol" (2.4/8).

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 9.4 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49):
More than tripling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+210%), ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (3.1/9) dominated its hour by 41% over its nearest competition (CBS' "Two and a Half Men"/"The Crazy Ones" = 2.2/6).

"Grey's" grew over its Winter Finale (12/12/13) by double digits in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+15%) to deliver its best numbers in nearly 5 months - since 10/3/13. In fact, it was "Grey's" 2nd-most-watched episode this season.

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.3 million and 3.4/10 in AD18-49):
Building on its "Grey's" lead-in by 10% in Adults 18-49 at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Scandal" beat its combined drama competition by 26% in The Hour (3.4/10 vs. 2.7/8 for CBS' "Elementary" and NBC's "Parenthood").

"Scandal" was up over its Winter Finale (12/12/13) in Adults 18-49 (+6%) to earn the series' 2nd-highest-ever rating.

Friday
With the Winter Olympics concluded, ABC moved back into the No. 1 position on Friday among Adults 18-49. Excluding the past three Olympic Fridays, ABC led the night for the 5th week in a row with young adults (1.6/6), dominating all original line-ups on CBS by 14% (1.4/5) and on NBC by 33% (1.2/4).

ABC's "Shark Tank" (2.1/7) and "20/20" (1.8/6) were once again the Top 2 TV programs of the night in Adults 18-49.

"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:31 p.m. - 6.6 million and 1.2/5 in AD18-49): In the 8:00 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Last Man Standing" ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.2/5-tie).

"The Neighbors" (8:31-9:00 p.m. - 4.2 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49): At 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Neighbors" finished as the No. 2 comedy of the night in Adults 18-49, behind only "Last Man Standing," outdelivering Fox's "Enlisted" by 67% (0.6/2 at 9:00 p.m.) and "Raising Hope" by 67% (0.6/2 at 9:30 p.m.).

"Shark Tank" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 7.8 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):
More than doubling its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49 (+110%), ABC's "Shark Tank" beat its nearest broadcaster in The Hour by 50% (2.1/7 vs. 1.4/5 - CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" and NBC's "Grimm" tied). "Shark Tank" turned in the series' 2nd-most-watched-ever telecast and jumped 24% in Adults 18-49 week to week to match its 2nd-best number this season.

Season to date, "Shark Tank" is up by 12% in Total Viewers and by 15% in Adults 18-49 over the same point last year, tracking as the series' best-ever season.

"20/20" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 7.3 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):
ABC's "20/20" dominated the 10 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), beating CBS' "Blue Bloods" by 29% (1.4/5) and NBC's season premiere of "Hannibal" by 64% (1.1/4). The ABC newsmagazine also won The Hour in the key Adult 25-54 news demo (2.4/7). "20/20" featured David Muir's exclusive report about a worldwide manhunt by two different fathers searching for their sons, after the mother of both boys takes them on an overseas vacation and doesn't return. ABC's "20/20" was the dominant No. 1 newsmagazine of the night, topping NBC's "Dateline" (8:00-9:00 p.m.) by double-digits in Total Viewers (+18%), Adults 18-49 (+50%) and Adults 25-54 (+41%).

Growing week to week in Adults 18-49 (+29%) and Adults 25-54 (+14%), "20/20" posted its 2nd-highest ratings this season.

Building for the 2nd year in a row, "20/20" is up 18% in Total Viewers season to date and on track to deliver its most-watched season in 4 years - since the 2009-10 season.

Sunday
With its broadcast of "The Oscars," ABC more than tripled its combined network competition on Sunday night. During primetime, ABC outdrew the other networks combined by 209% in Total Viewers (35.2 million vs. 11.4 million - CBS, NBC and Fox) and by 237% in Adults 18-49 (10.1/26 vs. 3.0/7).

The Network generated its most-watched Sunday in more than 8 years and equaled its top Adult 18-49 number on the night in 7 years - since 2/5/06 and 2/25/07, respectively.

"Oscar's Red Carpet Live" (7:00 - 8:30 p.m.)
All 3 segments of ABC's "Oscar's Red Carpet Live" pre-show were up year to year, with the final half-hour pulling in 26.9 million Total Viewers.

"The Oscars" (8:30-11:41 p.m.)
ABC's 2014 broadcast of "The Oscars" drew an average audience of 43.7 million Total Viewers and delivered a 13.1 rating, 33 share among Adults 18-49. The 2014 "Oscars" qualifies as TV's most-watched entertainment telecast since 2004 - since the "Friends" finale on 05/06/04.

Building its overall audience for the 3rd-consecutive year (+8% - 43.7 million vs. 40.4 million), ABC's "The Oscars" marked its most-watched telecast in 14 years - since 2000. In addition, the Ellen DeGeneres-hosted show was up in Adults 18-49 (+1% - 13.1/33 vs. 13.0/31) to a 4-year high, in Adults 18-34 (+3% - 11.6/33 vs. 11.3/32) and Men 18-34 (+6% - 9.5/30 vs. 9.0/27) to 7-year highs, in Teens 12-17 (+13% - 7.1/25 vs. 6.3/22) to a 9-year high and in Kids 2-11 (+13% - 3.6/15 vs. 3.2/13) to an 8-year high - since 2010, 2007, 2005 and 2006, respectively.

TV's biggest awards show, ABC's "The Oscars" overshadowed other key awards shows this year, outdrawing the 2014 "Golden Globe Awards" by 22.8 million viewers and 102% in Adults 18-49 (20.9 million/6.5 rating in AD18-49) and the 2014 "Grammy Awards" by 15.2 million viewers and 32% in Adults 18-49 (28.5 million/9.9 rating in AD18-49).

With "GMA-Sunday," the "Oscars Red Carpet Live" pre-show, "The Oscars" telecast and "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars," ABC's "Oscar" programming on Sunday reached 84.386 million unique television viewers across the U.S. - unduplicated Viewers 2+ watching 6-minutes or more during the broadcast.

Social Activity (SocialGuide)
According Social Guide there were 11.2 million tweets with 2.8 million unique users, as overall "Oscar" activity outpaced last year by 75% (11.2 million vs. 6.4 million).
13.9 million people saw Tweets about "The Oscars." Each person in that Twitter TV Audience saw, on average, 75 Tweets about the TV event, with a total of 1.04 billion Twitter TV impressions accrued across the night.

WEEK NO. 23: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 ABC 3.3 No.1 ABC 11,550,000
No.2 NBC 1.8 No.2 CBS 8,480,000
No.3 CBS 1.7 No.3 NBC 6,300,000
No.4 FOX 1.3 No.4 FOX 4,410,000
No.5 CW 0.6 No.5 CW 1,500,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 02/24/14.