Primetime Ratings Report For the week of March 21, 2011 (Based on National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC Marks its Most-Watched Non-"Oscar" Week Since November

ABC Claims 4 of the Top 15 TV Shows for the Week in Adults 18-49, Placing 2 of the Top 4 with "DWTS," "Modern Family," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Castle"

ABC Generates the Most-Watched Monday on Any Network in Nearly 1 Year

"DWTS'" 12th Season Premiere Dominates Monday, Up by 1.4 Million Viewers Over its Fall Debut, Registering the Franchise's 3rd-Most-Watched Premiere Ever

ABC's "Castle" is No. 1 in its Time Slot with its Best Results in Nearly 1 Year

ABC's "No Ordinary Family" Generates its Highest Numbers in Over 2 Months

ABC's "Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time" Delivers the Net's 2nd-Best Results in its Tuesday Slot in 4 Months with Viewers and Young Adults

Posting its Best Results in 6 Weeks, ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted TV Show in Adults 18-49 for its 18th Consecutive Original

Opposite "Idol," ABC's "Mr. Sunshine" Jumps Week to Week by 17% in Adults 18-49

Against Original Drama Competition in its Hour, ABC's "Off the Map" Hits its Best Results in 3 Weeks in Viewers and Adults 18-49, with a 6-Week High in Adults 18-34

Posting its Top Numbers in 7 Weeks, "Wipeout" Produces Big Year-to-Year Time Period Improvement for ABC Opposite "Idol" in Thursday's 8pm Hour

Up Over its Most-Recent Original 4 Weeks Ago, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Returns as Thursday's No. 1 Scripted TV Show in Viewers and Adults 18-49

"Shark Tank" Opens on Friday with ABC's Strongest Time-Slot Results Since January

Opposite CBS' High-Rated NCAA Basketball Overrun in the 7pm Hour, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" Builds Year to Year and Finishes No. 2

Surging from its Lead-in and Growing Week to Week, ABC's "Secret Millionaire" Improves its Time Slot by 47% in Viewers and by 38% in Adults 18-49 Year to Year

WEEK No. 27:

During the week of March 21, 2011, ABC claimed 4 of the Top 15 TV shows among Adults 18-49, placing 2 in the Top 4 and delivering the No. 1 scripted series with "Modern Family": "Dancing with the Stars" - No. 3, "Modern Family" - No. 4 (No. 1 scripted), "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 8 and "Castle" - No. 15. The Net broadcast 5 of the Top 20 most-watched television programs, including No. 2 "DWTS," which outdrew Fox's "American Idol - Thursday" by 1.4 million viewers: "DWTS" - No. 2, "Castle" - No. 7, "Modern Family" - No. 13 (TV's most-watched comedy), "Secret Millionaire" - No. 15 and "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 16. In addition, "Modern Family" was also the week's No. 1 scripted program in Adults 18-34 and Men 18-49, while "Grey's" was the No. 1 scripted program across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Building its numbers for the 2nd straight week, ABC posted strong week-to-week gains of 1.6 million viewers (7.9 million vs. 6.3 million) and 11% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.9/6). In fact excluding the week of the "Academy Awards," ABC generated its biggest audience since November and equaled its top Adult 18-49 number since early January - since w/o 11/22/10 and 1/3/11, respectively.

Monday

On the heels of its dominant victory the prior week with "The Bachelor" finale, ABC turned in another big Monday win with the 12th season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" leading into "Castle." During prime, ABC beat out its closest competition (CBS) by 10.3 million viewers (19.2 million vs. 8.9 million) and by 64% in Adults 18-49 (4.6/13 vs. 2.8/8).

· Hitting a season-high on the night, ABC generated the most-watched Monday for any network in nearly 1 year - since 3/29/10.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:02 p.m.)

Dominating each of its half-hours, ABC's 12th season opener of "Dancing with the Stars" towered over second-place CBS in the time period by 14.3 million viewers (22.7 million vs. 8.4 million) and by 89% in Adults 18-49 (5.3/15 vs. 2.8/8). In fact it was ABC's 5th consecutive week to lead the time period in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 and the 8th consecutive week in Adults 18-34.

· "DWTS'" audience surged from its first hour to its second hour, gaining 2.6 million viewers (21.3 million to 23.9 million) and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (4.8/14 to 5.7/15).

· "DWTS" was up from its most recent season opener in September by 1.4 million viewers and by 4% among young adults (21.3 million & 5.1/13 on 9/20/10). In fact it was "Dancing's" 3rd-most-watched premiere ever.

"Castle" (10:02-11:00 p.m.)

Monday's No. 2 most-watched TV show to "DWTS," ABC's "Castle" (12.0 million and 3.1/9) turned in a first-place finish in the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, leading CBS' original "Hawaii Five-0" (10.0 million and 2.9/8) and NBC's "Harry's Law" (8.4 million and 1.6/5). It was the ABC drama's 2nd straight original episode to win its time period on both measures.

· Achieving season-highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC's "Castle" marked its largest audience since April 2010 and strongest young adult performance since March 2010 - since and 4/12/10 and 3/29/10, respectively. In viewers and young adults, it was "Castle's" 3rd straight original telecast to grow over the previous episode.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC's "Castle" saw its largest winning advantages ever over CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" (+2.0 million and +7%, respectively) and NBC's "Harry's Law" (+3.6 million and +94%, respectively).

Tuesday

Growing week to week by 1.6 million viewers (6.5 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 31% in young adults (1.7/5 vs. 1.3/4), ABC Tuesday lineup took second in Total Viewers, drawing the Net's largest audience on the night over 3 months - since 12/7/10.

"No Ordinary Family" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Improving on its most recent original telecast by 1.1 million viewers and by 25% in Adults 18-49 (4.3 million & 1.2/4 on 3/1/11), ABC's "No Ordinary Family" posted its best numbers in both viewers (5.4 million) and young adults (1.5/5) in over 2 months - since 1/18/11.

"Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

The ABC News and People Magazine special, "Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time," drew 7.1 million viewers and a 1.8 rating, 5 share in Adults 18-49, delivering the Net's 2nd-strongest performance in the 2-hour time period in 4 months - since 11/23/10. The Tom Bergeron and Cynthia McFadden-hosted special, in which movie fans submitted more than a half million votes in an unprecedented online ballot, saw "Gone with the Wind" voted as the Best Film of all time.

· "Best in Film" saw its audience grow by 10% in Total Viewers (6.7 million to 7.4 million) and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 to 1.9/5) from its first hour to its second hour.

Wednesday

Up against Fox with a 2-hour Idol on Wednesday night, ABC beat CBS by 20% (1.5/5) and NBC by 38% (1.3/4) among Adults 18-34 (1.8/6).

· ABC grew its overall audience from the same Wednesday last year for the 13th time in the last 14 weeks (6.4 million vs. 6.2 million on 3/24/10).

"The Middle"/"The Middle" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., against the first hour of Fox's "American Idol" and CBS' "Survivor: Redemption Island," ABC's back-to-back original and repeat airings of "The Middle" dominated NBC's original "Minute To Win It," outdelivering the NBC game show by 50% in Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 4.2 million) and by 50% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6 vs. 1.2/4).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:31 p.m.)

Building on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. against the third half-hour of Idol, ABC's "Modern Family" ran a strong No. 2 in its slot with viewers (10.9 million) and young adults (4.4/12) to finish as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49 for its 18th straight first-run telecast this season.

· Up over its most-recent original telecast 3 weeks ago (10.1 million and 4.1/11 on 3/2/11) in viewers (+8%) and young adults (+7%), "Modern Family" turned in its strongest results in 6 weeks - since 2/9/11. In fact the ABC sophomore comedy put up its 2nd-highest-ever numbers against an installment of "American Idol."

· Surging year to year, "Modern Family" topped its year-ago performance by 1.7 million viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (9.2 million and 3.7/10 on 3/24/10).

"Mr. Sunshine" (9:31-10:00 p.m.)

Airing against the final segment of "Idol" in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Mr. Sunshine" delivered the No. 2 position in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6-tie) and Men 18-49 (1.8/5-tie).

· Jumping week to week by 1.3 million viewers (5.8 million vs. 4.5 million) and by 17% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.8/5), "Mr. Sunshine" posted its best numbers in 3 weeks - since 3/2/11.

"Off the Map" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour against original dramas on CBS ("Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior") and NBC ("Law & Order: SVU"), ABC's "Off the Map" turned in its strongest results in 3 weeks, growing over the prior week by 7% in Total Viewers (4.5 million vs. 4.2 million) and by 15% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.3/4). In addition, the ABC freshman drama equaled a 6-week high with Adults 18-34 (1.2/4) - since 2/9/11.

Thursday

ABC took second to an "Idol"-led Fox on Thursday among Total Viewers (8.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.9/8), turning in its strongest performance on the night since the beginning of February - since 2/3/11.

"Wipeout" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

From 8:00-9:00 p.m. against "American Idol," ABC's Spring "Wipeout" (7.4 million) drew the second-largest audience in the hour, topping CBS' NCAA Basketball (6.5 million) and NBC's original comedies ("Community"/"Perfect Couples = 3.9 million). "Wipeout" also ranked No. 2 in the hour among Adults 18-49, beating NBC's comedy block by 35% (2.3/7 vs. 1.7/5).

· Building week to week in viewers (+3%) and young adults (+10%), "Wipeout" generated the series' strongest performance in 7 weeks - since 2/3/11.

· Despite facing "Idol" in the time period this year, the ABC unscripted series generated double-digit year-to-year percentage gains in the hour with Total Viewers (+19%) and Adults 18-49 (+27%), over an original episode of "FlashForward" on the year-ago evening (6.2 million and 1.8/6 on 3/25/10).

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)

Returning to original for the first time in 4 weeks (since 2/24/11) to stand as Thursday's No. 1 scripted TV show, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" led Thursday's 9 o'clock hour by 2.0 million viewers (10.3 million vs. 8.3 million - Fox's "Bones") and by 28% in Adults 18-49 (3.7/10 vs. 2.9/8 - NBC's "The Office"/"Parks and Recreation") over its nearest competition. Grey's registered as the No. 1 scripted series in the slot among Adults 18-49 for its 17th straight original broadcast this season.

· Grey's was up by 13% in Total Viewers and by 9% in Adults 18-49 over its last original telecast (9.1 million and 3.4/9), posting its best numbers in 6 weeks - since 2/10/11.

"Private Practice" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Private Practice" qualified as the most-watched regular TV show in the 10 o'clock hour. Against its regular time-period competition, "Private Practice" posted strong advantages over NBC's original comedies ("30 Rock"/"Outsourced"), leading by 3.9 million viewers (7.9 million vs. 4.0 million) and by 53% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 1.7/5). In addition, for its 16th consecutive first run telecast, the ABC drama registered as the No.1 scripted TV show in the 10 o'clock hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

Surging week to week by 1.9 million viewers (7.9 million vs. 6.0 million) and by 36% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 1.9/6), "Private Practice" drew its biggest audience since mid-November (19-week high) and its highest Adult 18-49 rating since the beginning of January (11-week high) - since 11/18/10 and 1/6/11, respectively.

Friday

Against CBS' high-rated NCAA Basketball Tournament, ABC matched its most-watched Friday (4.7 million) in 6 weeks - since 2/11/11.

"Shark Tank" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

At 8:00 p.m., the season premiere of "Shark Tank" delivered ABC's largest audience (4.7 million) and equaled its top Adult 18-49 number (1.2/4) in the time period since early January - since 1/7/11. Compared to the show's year-ago Friday premiere in the 9 o'clock hour (3.9 million on 1/8/10), "Shark Tank" was up by 21% in Total Viewers. In fact the "Shark Tank" premiere outdrew all of its Friday telecasts last season.

"Primetime: What Would You Do?" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)

In the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Primetime: What Would You Do?" topped Fox's original "Fringe" by 16% in Total Viewers (4.4 million vs. 3.8 million).

"20/20" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "20/20" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+4% - 5.0 million vs. 4.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (+8% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.3/4). "20/20" featured Jim Avila's exclusive report on an explosive relationship that ended in a fiery death.

Sunday

Opposite CBS' high-rated NCAA Basketball Tournament overrun, ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" took second place during the 7 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (7.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.6/5). The broad-appealing show made ABC the top broadcaster in the hour with Kids 2-11 (1.4/5). In addition, ABC's "AFV" towered over NBC's original "Dateline" (3.5 million and 0.6/2) in the time period by 4.0 million viewers and by 167% in Adults 18-49.

· Despite the stiff competition, the veteran ABC video clip show increased its overall audience over the same night last year (+3% - 7.5 million vs. 7.3 million on 3/28/10).

"Secret Millionaire" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Continuing to surge over its lead-in at 8:00 p.m. in viewers (+3.1 million) and young adults (+69%) against an NCAA Basketball-boosted CBS, and growing week to week (+3%/+8%), ABC's "Secret Millionaire" (10.6 million and 2.7/8) beat out its original competition on NBC ("America's Next Great Restaurant" = 3.7 million and 1.3/4) and Fox ("The Simpsons"/"Bob's Burgers" = 5.4 million and 2.5/7) by solid margins in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact ABC's freshman "Secret Millionaire" towered over its freshman competition, more than doubling NBC's "America's Next Great Restaurant" by 6.9 million viewers and by 108% in Adults 18-49. The broad-appealing ABC unscripted series ranked No. 1 for the 4th time in as many telecasts in the hour with key Women 18-49 (3.3/9-tie).

· Building audience throughout its telecast, "Secret Millionaire" gained 1.9 million viewers (9.7 million to 11.6 million) and 25% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 to 3.0/8) from its first half-hour to second half-hour.

· Once again delivering big year-over-year gains for ABC in the hour, on average in its 4 telecasts "Secret Millionaire" is improving its time period by 47% in Total Viewers (11.5 million vs. 7.8 million) and by 38% in Adults 18-49 (2.9/8 vs. 2.1/6).

Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings), week of 3/21/11, unless stated otherwise.