ABC's S.H.I.E.L.D.' Up Week to Week and Continues to Grow its Slot Year to Year

During the week of March 16, 2015, ABC aired 5 of the Top 15 TV shows in Adults 18-49: "Scandal" - No. 7, "Dancing with the Stars" and "Grey's Anatomy" tied at No. 9, "Once Upon a Time" - No. 12 and "Shark Tank" - No. 15. In addition among Total Viewers, ABC's 20th season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" was TV's most-watched unscripted series and the week's No. 3 show overall, behind only Fox's back-to-back season finale episodes of "Empire." ABC was the 2nd-most-watched TV network (6.3 million) to CBS, drawing its biggest audience in 4 weeks - since w/o 2/16/15 with the Oscars.

Please Note: Most of ABC's Tuesday and Wednesday lineups aired in repeat during the week.

Season to date (26 Weeks - Most Current), ABC is gaining 7% in Total Viewers (7.9 million vs. 7.4 million) and is the only broadcast net to improve in Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.2/7 vs. 2.1/6). In the key young adult sales demo, CBS is even, NBC is down -13% and FOX is down -22% for the season.

Monday
With the Season 20 premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" and the return of "Castle," ABC was the most-watched TV network on Monday (12.5 million) and took second place in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6). Winning all 6 half-hours, the Net marked its most-watched Monday since November - since 11/24/14.

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was Monday's most-watched TV show (14.2 million) and ranked No. 2 for the night in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7), behind only "The Voice." "Castle" was Monday's No. 1 scripted show (8.9 million).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 14.2 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:01 p.m., ABC's 20th season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" outdrew NBC's "The Voice" to lead the 2-hour slot by 1.6 million viewers (14.2 million vs. 12.6 million) and earned second with young adults (2.1/7). Against the "Dancing" premiere, "The Voice" fell to a season low. "DWTS" was up 4% in viewers over last fall's opener (14.2 million vs.13.6 million on 9/15/14).

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 8.9 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49):
During the 10:00 p.m. hour on its first airing in 3 weeks (since 2/23/15), ABC's "Castle" returned as the most-watched show (8.9 million) and won in Adults 18-49 for its 3rd straight telecast (1.5/5). Building on its most recent airing by 1.3 million viewers (8.9 million vs. 7.6 million), "Castle" drew its biggest audience in nearly 4 months - since 11/24/14.

Tuesday
"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 4.3 million and 1.6/5 in AD18-49):
More than doubling its young adult lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+128% over an encore "Repeat After Me"), ABC's "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." built week to week in Total Viewers (+13% - 4.3 million vs. 3.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.6/5 vs. 1.5/4). The show also spiked 22% week to week with Men 18-34. "S.H.I.E.L.D." ran a strong second in the hour in Adults 18-49 (nearly tying NBC's "The Voice"-led comedy premieres - 1.6/5 vs. 1.8/6) and was No. 1 in its slot across all key Men demos (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

For the 3rd-straight week since its mid-season return, the ABC drama improved its hour by double digits year to year in Adults 18-49 (+23% over original comedies on 3/18/14). And on average season to date, "S.H.I.E.L.D." is growing the time slot for ABC by 27% in the key young adult sales demo (2.8/8 vs. 2.2/6) over the comparable weeks last season.

Wednesday
"20/20: The Untold Story of the Sound of Music" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.3 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):
Building on its lead-in by at 10:00 p.m. (+8%/+18%), ABC's special "20/20" with Diane Sawyer exploring the mystery of "The Sound of Music" ranked No. 1 in its hour with Adults 18-49 (1.4/4) and Adults 25-54 (2.0/6), tying CBS' original "CSI: Cyber" on both measures.

In Total Viewers and Adults 25-54, the special "20/20" delivered ABC's top numbers in the time period since the Net's high-rated New Year's Eve coverage (on 12/31/14). In addition, with 7.3 million viewers, it was the most-watched telecast for "20/20" this season.

Thursday
ABC ranked a strong second on Thursday in Adults 18-49, nearly tying CBS' high-rated NCAA Basketball Tournament coverage for the lead (1.9/6 vs. 2.0/7).

ABC's "Scandal" (2.4/7) and "Grey's Anatomy" (2.1/7) stood as Thursday's Top 2 TV shows in Adults 18-49.

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 7.7 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):
At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" won its hour and beat Fox's "American Idol" for the 3rd week in a row among Adults 18-49 (+17% - 2.1/7 vs. 1.8/6). "Grey's" gained 4% week to week in Total Viewers (7.7 million vs. 7.4 million) and held steady in Adults 18-49.

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 7.8 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):
At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Scandal" led its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.4/7), winning by wide margins over NBC's "The Blacklist" (+33% - 1.8/6) and the second hour of Fox's "American Idol" (+26% - 1.9/6).

On average season to date, "Scandal" is growing by double digits in Total Viewers (+20% - 13.2 million vs. 10.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+15% - 4.5/14 vs. 3.9/11).

"American Crime" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.5 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC freshman "American Crime" was the No. 1 series in the slot for the 3rd straight week in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4), towering over its freshman NBC drama competition (+71% over "The Slap" = 0.7/2). Despite heightened competition in the hour from CBS' NCAA Basketball Tournament coverage, the new ABC drama retained nearly all of its Total Viewer count week to week (95% - 5.5 million vs. 5.8 million).

Friday
ABC won Friday in Adults 18-49 (1.3/5) with "Shark Tank" as the top-rated TV show (1.8/6) and "Last Man Standing" as the No. 1 scripted show (1.3/5). In fact, "Shark Tank" marked its 20th straight original telecast as Friday's No. 1 series in the key young adult sales demo. The Net was also Friday's leader in Total Viewers (6.2 million) with "Shark Tank" (7.5 million) and "Last Man Standing" (7.0 million) finishing as the Top 2 most-watched shows overall.

"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:31 p.m. - 7.0 million and 1.3/5 in AD18-49): At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Last Man Standing" won its half-hour in Adults 18-49 and was up 8% week to week (1.3/5 vs. 1.2/5). The ABC comedy was also the most-watched show in the half-hour (7.0 million).

"Cristela" (8:31-9:00 p.m. - 5.3 million and 1.0/4 in AD18-49): At 8:30 p.m., ABC's "Cristela" stood as the most-watched show in its slot and grew week to week in Total Viewers (+6% - 5.3 million vs. 5.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+11% - 1.0/4 vs. 0.9/3).

"Shark Tank" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 7.5 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): Spiking 80% over its lead-in among Adults 18-49 at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Shark Tank" won its hour by 64% over its nearest regular competition (1.8/6 vs. 1.1/4 - NBC's "Dateline"). The ABC unscripted series built week to week in viewers (+4% - 7.5 million vs. 7.2 million) and remained even with young adults.

"20/20" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 5.0 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49): At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "20/20" gained viewers week to week (+2% - 5.1 million vs. 4.9 million) and held steady in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4).

Saturday
"In An Instant" (9:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.4 million and 0.7/2 in AD18-49): From 9:00-11:00 p.m. against CBS' NCAA basketball coverage, ABC's "In An Instant" grew over the prior week by double digits in Total Viewers (+22% - 4.4 million vs. 3.6 million), Adults 25-54 (+11% - 1.0/3 vs. 0.9/3) and Adults 18-49 (+17% - 0.7/2 vs. 0.6/2), drawing its largest overall audience yet. The new ABC series drew the Network's biggest non-sports audience in the 2-hour time period in nearly 1 year - since 4/19/14.

Sunday
Opposite an NCAA Basketball Tournament-overrun boosted CBS, ABC ranked No. 2 on Sunday in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4) with "Once Upon a Time" finishing as the night's top-rated broadcast (1.9/6-tie).

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m. - 6.4 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49):
At 7:00 p.m. against CBS' high-rated NCAA overrun, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" built week to week in Adults 18-49 (+8% - 1.4/5 vs. 1.3/5).

"Once Upon a Time" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 5.8 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):
Building on its lead-in at 8:00 p.m. (+36%), ABC's "Once Upon a Time" earned first place in its hour for the 4th week in a row in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6). The ABC drama grew week to week in Adults 18-49 (+6%) and Adults 18-34 (+8%).

"Secrets and Lies" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 5.6 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):
At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Secrets and Lies" was up and dominated its CBS drama competition in the hour, beating "Madam Secretary"/"The Good Wife" by 25% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.2/3). The new ABC drama grew by 7% week to week in Adults 18-49 to tie a series high.

Based on Live + 3 Day ratings, ABC's "Secrets and Lies" increased to a 2.1 rating among Adults 18-49 for last Sunday's third episode, up 5% week to week (vs. a 2.0) to equal its highest L+3 number yet. The ABC freshman posted larger playback growth for the 2nd straight telecast in the key young adult demo, growing by a best-yet +50% (vs. +43% for episode 2 and +40% for episode 1) after 3 days of TV playback.

"Revenge" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 4.4 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Revenge" beat out its drama competition, leading CBS' "The Good Wife"/"Battle Creek" by 22% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/3 vs. 0.9/3). "Revenge" was even with the prior week in Adults 18-49.

WEEK NO. 26: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 FOX 1.8 No.1 CBS 7,220,000
No.2 CBS 1.5 No.2 ABC 6,250,000
No.3 ABC 1.4 No.3 NBC 6,060,000
No.3 NBC 1.4 No.4 FOX 5,330,000
No.5 CW 0.6 No.5 CW 1,730,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, National Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 03/16/15.

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