ABC's CASTLE Outdraws NBC's 'Blindspot' in Viewers for Its 3rd Straight Original

During the week of April 11, 2016, ABC ran in a 3-way tie for No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4) with CBS and NBC while straight out winning the week among Women 18-34. The Net delivered 5 of the Top 10 TV shows in Adults 18-49 (most for any net) and the Top 3 comedies ("Modern Family," "The Goldbergs" and "The Middle"): "Modern Family" and "Grey's Anatomy" tied at No. 5, "DWTS" (season high) - No. 7, "The Goldbergs" - No. 8 and "The Middle" - No. 10. ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was the week's most watched TV show overall.
ABC grew week to week by 8% in Total Viewers (5.4 million vs. 5.0 million) and held even with Adults 18-49 (1.2/4), drawing its biggest audience in 3 weeks and equaling a 4-week high with young adults - since w/o 3/21/16 and 3/14/16, respectively.

Monday
Featuring Disney Night on "Dancing with the Stars" and "Castle," ABC was Monday's most watched TV network (10.5 million) and again ran a strong No. 2 in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6). In addition, ABC tied NBC for No. 1 on Monday in Adults 18-34 while ranking No. 1 among the broadcasters with Women 18-34 and Kids 2-11. In fact, "Dancing" was the night's most watched television show overall and also topped NBC's "The Voice" to rank as Monday's top-rated program in Adults 18-34.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 12.5 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was Monday's most watched TV series for the 4th straight week, outdrawing NBC's "The Voice" by a season best 2.1 million viewers (12.5 million vs. 10.4 million). In addition, "Dancing" nearly tied "The Voice" in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7 vs. 2.3/7) for its closest finish this season while beating "The Voice" in the 2-hour time slot with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34, Men 18-34 and Kids 2-11.

"Dancing" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 18-49 (+18%), hitting season highs in both measures. Disney Night on "DWTS" also grew to season bests with Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54, Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 6.4 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49):
During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Castle" outdrew NBC's "Blindspot" for its 3rd straight first-run airing in Total Viewers (+16% - 6.4 million vs. 5.5 million). "Castle" held even week to week in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4).

"Castle" Live + 7 Season to Date: On average this season, "Castle" delivers a 2.0 rating among Adults 18-49 in the Live + 7 Day data, representing an +82% jump over its L+SD average (1.1 rating).

Tuesday
"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 3.0 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49):
Coming out of repeat comedies at 9:00 p.m. against "The Voice"'s second hour, ABC's "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." built on its lead-in by 43% and was up week to week in Adults 18-49 (+11% - 1.0/3 vs. 0.9/3) to match a 5-week high - since 3/8/16. The ABC drama also built on the prior week by 22% with Men 18-49 to tie its highest rating of 2016.

Most Recent L+7 ratings: In the most recent Live + 7 Day data released this past Monday (for 3/22/16), "S.H.I.E.L.D." spiked 100% over its L+SD rating (from a 0.9 to a 1.8 rating) to deliver the series' biggest-ever L+7 lift.

Wednesday
ABC's Wednesday delivery was up week to week in Adults 18-49 (+7%) and beat NBC with "The Voice" and the 2-hour series debut of "Strong" by 33% (1.6/5 vs. 1.2/4). Closing the gap with "Empire" week to week by 4-tenths at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" was Wednesday's No. 2 TV show in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7).

"The Middle"/"The Goldbergs" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.6 million and 1.8/7 in AD18-49):
Pacing within 1-tenth of CBS' "Survivor" (1.9/7) from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" (1.7/7) and "The Goldbergs" (1.9/9) beat NBC's special "The Voice" by 6% in each half-hour among Adults 18-49 (1.6/6 and 1.8/6) and dominated their scripted competition in the hour by 50% over Fox's "Rosewood" (1.2/4).

Despite increased competition from "The Voice" in the hour, "The Middle" (1.7/7) held even week to week in Adults 18-49 and "The Goldbergs" was up 6% (1.9/7 vs. 1.8/6).

"Modern Family"/"black-ish" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 6.6 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):
Opposite "Empire" in the 9:00 p.m. hour, ABC took 2nd place in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6) with "Modern Family" and "black-ish" holding a 12% advantage over 3rd-place CBS (1.7/5 for "Criminal Minds") and beating 4th-place NBC by 90% with the first hour of "Strong" (1.0/3).

"Modern Family" (2.2/7 vs. 2.3/8) and "black-ish" (1.5/5 vs. 1.6/6) held steady week to week in Adults 18-49 while "black-ish" gained Total Viewers (+4% - 5.7 million vs. 5.5 million).

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.1 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Nashville" topped the final hour of NBC's "Strong" debut by 1.0 million viewers (4.1 million vs. 3.1 million). The ABC drama was up for the 2nd week in Total Viewers (+3% - 4.1 million vs. 4.0 million) and even in Adults 18-49 (0.9/3).

Live + 3 Day Ratings for Last Wednesday (4/6/16): "Nashville" was last Wednesday's biggest broadcast gainer among Adults 18-49 with a +67% jump over its L+SD rating (from a 0.9 to a 1.5 in L+3).

Thursday
ABC ranked No. 2 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (1.6/6-tie) to FOX with the series finale of "American Idol." Despite facing the high-rated "Idol" finale during prime, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" paced within 1-tenth week to week with Adults 18-49 (2.1/8 vs. 2.2/8), "Scandal" held even (1.7/6) and "The Catch" was up 10% at 10:00 p.m. (1.1/4 vs. 1.0/4).

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 7.4 million and 2.1/8 in AD18-49):
At 8:00 p.m., "Grey's" grew 12% week to week in Adults 18-34, hitting a 5-week high and tying its best rating since its mid-season return - since 3/3/16 and 2/11/16, respectively. In addition, the 12th-season ABC drama was up for the 4th-straight week in Women 18-34 to its best rating since November - since 11/5/15.

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 5.9 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49):
During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Scandal" held even at a 6-week high (since 2/18/16) in Adults 18-49 and beat NBC's original "The Blacklist" by 42% (1.7/6 vs. 1.2/4).

"The Catch" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.9 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "The Catch" ranked No. 1 in the hour among Adults 18-49, beating fellow freshman drama CBS' "Rush Hour" by 22% (1.1/4 vs. 0.9/3). In addition to growing in Adults 18-49 (+10%), "The Catch" was also up week to week with Adults 18-34 (+17%) and Women 18-34 (+11%). The new ABC drama improved its hour year to year by 11% in Total Viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49 over an original "American Crime" on the year-ago night (4.4 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49 on 4/9/15).

Live + 3 for Last Week: Based on the L+3 data for last Thursday (3/31/16), "The Catch" was the night's biggest gainer on the major nets with a +70% SPIKE over its L+SD rating (from a 1.0 to a 1.7), up from a +58% increase for show's premiere in the hour the prior week.

Friday
ABC ranked No. 1 on Friday for the 2nd week in a row with Adults 18-49 (1.1/5-tied w/CBS).

"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:31 p.m. - 6.3 million and 1.1/5 in AD18-49):
At 8:00 p.m., "Last Man Standing" finished No. 1 in its half-hour with Total Viewers (6.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.1/4), gaining 10% week to week among young adults.

"Dr. Ken" (8:31-9:00 p.m. - 4.7 million and 1.0/4 in AD18-49):
At 8:30 p.m., ABC's "Dr. Ken" ranked No. 1 in its slot with Adults 18-49 (1.0/4), posting an 11% increase to match a 6-week high - since 3/4/16. In addition, the ABC freshman comedy earned its most watched telecast overall (4.7 million) since early March - since 3/4/16. "Dr. Ken" improved its half hour year to year by 11% with young adults ("Cristela" on 4/17/15 = 0.9/4).

"Shark Tank" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 5.6 million and 1.3/5 in AD18-49):
Growing 30% over its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Shark Tank" won its hour and finished as Friday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 (1.3/5-tie). "Shark Tank" was up week to week in both Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

"20/20" (10:01-11 p.m. - 5.0 million and 1.0/4 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "20/20" stood as Friday's most watched newsmagazine, outdrawing NBC's "Dateline" head to head in the hour for the 3rd-straight week among Total Viewers (+14% - 5.0 million vs. 4.4 million). "20/20" increased its viewer count for the 2nd consecutive week to deliver a 4-week high (since 3/18/16), marking 2nd most watched telecast overall in the last 2 months - since 2/19/16. "20/20" featured Deborah Roberts' report on a mother and daughter's sinister plot to kill three family members.

Saturday
"20/20-Saturday" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.3 million and 0.7/3 in AD18-49):
ABC's "20/20-Saturday" was up from its last telecast two weeks ago across the board: Total Viewers (+14% - 3.3 million vs. 2.9 million), Adults 18-49 (+40% - 0.7/3 vs. 0.5/2) and Adults 25-54 (+13% - 0.9/3 vs. 0.8/2).

Sunday
"Once Upon a Time" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 3.8 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):
Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+20%) at 8:00 p.m. against NBC with "Little Big Shots," ABC's "Once Upon a Time" beat out its CBS drama in the hour by 33% (1.2/4 vs. 0.9/3 - "Madam Secretary"). The ABC drama held even with its week-earlier Adult 18-49 rating.

"The Family" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 3.0 million and 0.8/2 in AD18-49):
At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "The Family" held even with the prior week in Adults 18-49 (0.8/2) to match its highest rating on the night. In addition, the new ABC drama was up 17% with Women 18-34 to a 6-week high - since 3/6/16.

Live + 3 Day Ratings for Last Sunday (4/10/16): Last Sunday, "The Family" was the night's 2nd-biggest broadcast gainer in Adults 18-49 (behind only "Quantico") with a +63% lift from its L+SD to its L+3 rating (growing from a 0.8 to a 1.3).

"Quantico" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.7 million and 1.0/4 in AD18-49):
Surging over its lead-in at 10:00 p.m. (+25%), ABC's "Quantico" beat CBS' "Elementary" in the hour by a best-yet 43% in Adults 18-49 (1.0/4 vs. 0.7/2). "Quantico" held steady with its week-ago Adult 18-49 rating (1.0/4 vs. 1.1/3) and gained 20% in Men 18-34 to deliver its highest rating of 2016.

Live + 3 Day Ratings: ABC's "Quantico" is the season's biggest percentage gainer on the broadcast networks among Adults 18-49 in both L+3 playback (+92%) and L+7 playback (+100%).

WEEK NO. 30: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 ABC 1.2 No.1 CBS 7,500,000
No.1 CBS 1.2 No.2 NBC 5,700,000
No.1 NBC 1.2 No.3 ABC 5,370,000
No.4 FOX 1.1 No.4 FOX 3,200,000
No.5 CW 0.4 No.5 CW 1,120,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, National Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 04/11/16.

Photo credit: ABC/ Richard Cartwright*

To post a comment, you must register and login.