via press release:
ABC’s Special “Winter Wipeout” Beats NBC’s Original Comedies, Posting the Net’s
2nd-Best Adult 18-34 Number in the Hour This Season and a Season High in Teens
ABC’s “America’s Funniest Home Videos” Holiday Special Achieves Season Highs
In Young Adults and Viewers 2-17, Hitting a Nearly 3-Year High with Teens 12-17
ABC’s “The Great Big American Auction” Outdraws
NBC’s Original “Grimm” at 10pm
“Winter Wipeout SP” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC’s holiday special “Winter Wipeout: Deck the Balls” beat out NBC’s original comedies (“Community”/”Parks and Recreation”) by 3.0 million viewers (6.6 million vs. 3.6 million) and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.6/5). The special ranked No. 1 in the hour with Kids 2-11, finishing as the highest-rated broadcast show of the evening. In fact, it was the top-rated “Wipeout” telecast on any night with Kids 2-11 since June – since 6/23/11.
- Opposite stiff original competition in the hour from CBS’ comedies (“The Big Bang Theory”/”Rules of Engagement”) and Fox’s “The X Factor Results Show,” “Wipeout” surged by double digits from its first half-hour to its second half-hour with viewers (+13%) and young adults (+31%).
- The “Winter Wipeout” special tallied ABC’s 2nd-highest Adult 18-34 number in the time period this season and hit a season high with Teens 12-17.
“America’s Funniest Videos Christmas Spectacular” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
During the 9 o’clock hour, ABC’s special “America’s Funniest Home Videos Christmas Spectacular” outdrew NBC’s original comedies (“The Office”/”Whitney”) by 1.5 million viewers (6.5 million vs. 5.0 million). In addition, the ABC video-clip show ranked No. 2 against its broadcast competitors with Teens 12-17, and No. 1 with Kids 2-11.
- “America’s Funniest Home Videos” marked season highs with Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11. In fact, the series equaled its best Adult 18-34 number in 11 months and its top Teen 12-17 number in close to 3 years – since 1/2/11 and 1/25/09, respectively.
“The Great Big American Auction” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
From 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC’s special “The Great Big American Auction” attracted 17% more viewers than NBC’s original “Grimm” (4.8 million vs. 4.1 million).
- Despite airing during the final hour of the evening, the ABC special gained viewers (+4%) and young adults (+7%) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.
A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 43% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2010.
More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.
Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 12/08/11.
