ABC's 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' Opens 4th Season with Its Biggest Audience

"Dancing with the Stars-SP" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.5 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49): From 8:00-10:00 p.m. against season premiere/debut competition on the other broadcasters, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" results show held exactly even with its performance on the same Tuesday last year in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 on 9/22/15 from 9:00-11:00 p.m.). In the 2-hour slot, ABC's "Dancing" results show beat out Fox's Tuesday season premiere lineup by 50% in Adults 18-49 ("Brooklyn 9-9"/"New Girl"/"Scream Queens" = 1.0/4).

"DWTS" drew ABC's biggest audience (8.5 million) to the 2-hour time period since November - since 11/24/15.

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.6 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49): Shifting to its new 1-hour later 10 o'clock time period, ABC's 4th season premiere of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." built on its May finale (on 5/17/16) by 20% in Total Viewers (3.6 million vs. 3.0 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4 vs. 1.0/4), delivering its biggest audience since its winter finale in December and its top young adult rating since its midseason premiere at the beginning of March - since 12/8/15 and 3/8/16, respectively. In addition, "S.H.I.E.L.D." was up from ABC's year-ago fall drama debut in the hour by 22% in Adults 18-49 ("Wicked City" = 0.9/3 on 10/27/15).

A Top Gainer in TV Playback: Last season, "S.H.I.E.L.D." saw its rating jump 83% in Adults 18-49 (+1.0 rating) from L+SD to Live + 7 Day, putting it among broadcast TV's Top 10 percentage gainers for the 2015-16 season (No. 8-tie).

Projections Rationale:
Lifts vs. L+SD are based on 2015-16 season averages 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 9/20/16.

Photo credit: ABC/Matthias Clamer*

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