ABC's BACHELOR IN PARADISE Finale Is Up Year to Year and Hits Season Highs

During the week of September 5, 2016, ABC was the 2nd most-watched TV network (4.5 million) to an NFL-fueled NBC, which carried primetime games on both Thursday and Sunday. ABC grew its overall audience year to year (+5% - 4.5 million vs. 4.3 million on w/o 9/7/15) for the 3rd week in a row.

Monday ABC took second place on Labor Day in Total Viewers (4.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.1/4) among the broadcasters. ABC was the No. 1 broadcast net on Monday night with all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

"Bachelor in Paradise" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 5.0 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49): From 8:00-10:01 p.m., night 1 of ABC's "Bachelor in Paradise" 2-night season finale grew by double digits over its corresponding year-ago Sunday finale in Total Viewers (+28% - 5.0 million vs. 3.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+27% - 1.4/5 vs. 1.1/4). ABC's "Bachelor in Paradise" was Monday's No. 1 TV show in key Women (W18-49/W25-54) and ranked as the No. 2 series in Adults 18-49, behind only NBC's "American Ninja Warrior." Please note: Last year's "Bachelor in Paradise" finale also aired over 2 nights, on the corresponding year-ago Sunday and Monday, respectively (9/6/15 and 9/7/15).

Tuesday Boosted by strong finales for "Bachelor in Paradise" and "After Paradise," ABC took second place on Tuesday in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4) to an "America's Got Talent"-led NBC. "Bachelor in Paradise" ranked as the top-rated TV show in Women 18-34.

Among Adults 18-49, ABC hit a 6-week high on the night (since 7/26/16) and spiked 83% from the same Tuesday last summer.

"Bachelor in Paradise" (8:00-9:03 p.m. - 5.6 million and 1.6/6 in AD18-49): Gaining audience in each of its last 4 telecasts on the night from 8:00-9:03 p.m., ABC's "Bachelor in Paradise" finale rose by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+12% - 5.6 million vs. 5.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+14% - 1.6/6 vs. 1.4/6). The ABC unscripted series closed out with a new season high with Total Viewers and equaled a season best with Adults 18-49, marking the franchise's 2nd-highest numbers ever.

"Bachelor in Paradise" was up from its year-ago season closer on Monday (on 9/7/15) in both Total Viewers (+17% - 5.6 million vs. 4.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.6/6 vs. 1.5/4) for its strongest finale yet.

"After Paradise" (9:03-10:00 p.m. - 3.9 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49): Building each week this season at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "After Paradise" finale grew by double digits in Total Viewers (+15% - 3.9 million vs. 3.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+22% - 1.1/4 vs. 0.9/3) to set new season highs. In the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "After Paradise" beat CBS' "Zoo" finale by 38% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4 vs. 0.8/3).

"Mistresses" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 2.6 million and 0.6/2 in AD18-49): In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's season finale of "Mistresses" gained 20% from the previous night in Adults 18-49 (0.6/2 vs. 0.5/2 on 9/5/16) and held even with its year-ago finale on Thursday (0.6/2 on 9/3/15).

Friday "20/20" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.6 million and 0.7/3 in AD18-49): Building on its lead-in at 10:00 p.m., ABC's season premiere of "20/20" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+15% - 4.6 million vs. 4.0 million) and Adults 25-54 (+10% - 1.1/4 vs. 1.0/4), while holding even with Adults 18-49 (0.7/3). The ABC newsmagazine delivered its biggest overall audience in 9 weeks and equaled an 8-week high in the key news demo - since 7/8/16 and 7/15/16, respectively. In addition, "20/20" outdrew its year-ago opener by 18% in Total Viewers (4.6 million vs. 3.9 million on 9/11/15). "20/20" featured Diane Sawyer's interview with Elizabeth Vargas on alcoholism and anxiety.

Saturday ABC Saturday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.4 million and 1.9/8 in AD18-49):
With COLLEGE FOOTBALL coverage (Virginia Tech at Tennessee), ABC won Saturday night for the 2nd week in a row with Total Viewers (6.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.9/8), dominating FOX with its COLLEGE FOOTBALL coverage (1.6 million and 0.5/2). In fact, ABC outdelivered the other major networks combined by 46% among Adults 18-49 during primetime (1.9/8 vs. 1.3/5 for CBS, NBC and Fox).

Airing from 8:07 p.m.-12:14 a.m., ABC's "Saturday Night Football" was the evening's No. 1 program for the 2nd week running among Total Viewers (5.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.9/8).

Sunday "Celebrity Family Feud" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.7 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):
At 8:00 p.m., the season finale of ABC's "Celebrity Family Feud" jumped over its last original telecast two weeks ago by 18% in Total Viewers (6.7 million vs. 5.7 million) and 30% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.0/4) to close out at 6-week highs on both measures - since 7/31/16.

"The 2017 MISS AMERICA Competition" (9:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.3 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):
Up against big NFL-fueled competition from the season premiere of NBC's SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (New England-Arizona) and Fox's NFL overrun-inflated lineup (NY Giants-Cowboys), ABC's Sunday 9:00-11:00 p.m. telecast of "The 2017 MISS AMERICA Competition" gained 1.4 million viewers (5.6 million to 7.0 million) and 27% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4 to 1.4/5) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour. During its final half-hour from 10:30-11:00 p.m. as Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields was crowned, "The MISS AMERICA Competition" drew 7.0 million viewers and a 1.4 rating, 5 share with young adults. ABC was the No. 1 non-sports network in the 2-hour time period with Total Viewers (7.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.3/4).

WEEK NO. 51: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 NBC 3.3 No.1 NBC 11,110,000
No.2 FOX 1.3 No.2 ABC 4,470,000
No.3 ABC 1.1 No.3 CBS 4,230,000
No.4 CBS 0.8 No.4 FOX 3,930,000
No.5 CW 0.3 No.5 CW 1,090,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, National Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 9/5/16.

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