ABC Wins May Sweeps in Adults 18-45 for the First Time in 14 Years

With just two nights left to count heading into tonight’s season finale of “Dancing” and the closers for its Wednesday comedies, ABC ranks No. 1 for the 2014 May Sweep in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5), leading CBS by 13% (1.5/5), NBC by 21% (1.4/4) and Fox by 31% (1.3/4). ABC also leads the month in Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54), while standing as the top-rated broadcaster with Teens 12-17.

  • First May Sweep Adult 18-49 Win in 14 Years and Longest Winning Streak in 7-1/2 Years: The Net is on track for its first May Sweep victory in 14 years among Adults 18-49 – since 2000. In fact, ABC has been building competitive momentum since the Winter Olympics concluded in February and has now finished No. 1 in Adults 18-49 for each of the last 5 Nielsen weeks to mark its longest winning streak in 7-1/2 years – since Fall 2006.
  • ABC Wins Each Friday and Sunday of the May Sweep in Adults 18-49 – Top Friday in 7 Years: ABC took first place on each Friday during the May Sweep in Adults 18-49, building year over year by 14% to its highest number on the night in 7 years – since May 2007. ABC’s “Shark Tank” and “20/20” stood as Friday’s Top 2 TV shows of the May Sweep. In addition, ABC won all 4 Sundays in Adults 18-49, growing 5% year to year. The Net delivered Sunday’s No. 1 broadcast series in May with “Once Upon a Time.”
  • Highest-Rated Series of the Month: ABC claims 7 of the Top 20 broadcast series during May in Adults 18-49, placing 3 of the Top 10: “Modern Family” – No. 2, “Grey’s Anatomy” – No. 6, “DWTS” – No. 10, “Once Upon a Time” – No. 12, while “S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Resurrection” and “Bachelorette” tie at No. 17. In addition, ABC’s “DWTS” is May’s most-watched unscripted series overall, outdrawing both installments of Fox’s “American Idol” and NBC’s “The Voice.