ABC dominates Sunday with 'American Idol' premiering as No. 1 show

‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ draws its biggest audience in 4 years

Quick take for Sunday, March 3 (fast affiliate live + same day ratings)

ABC Sunday Prime Time (7-11 p.m. – 7.0 million and 1.4/6 in AD18-49):

With its lineup of “America’s Funniest Viceos,” the second season premiere of ABC’s “American Idol,” and “Shark Tank” ranking No. 1 in each half-hour of primetime, ABC won Sunday night by 75 percent over its nearest competition in adults 18-49 (1.4/6 vs. 0.8/3 – CBS and NBC tied). Excluding only the prior week’s Oscars coverage, ABC hit Sunday season highs in viewers and young adults.

“American Idol” premiered as Sunday’s No. 1 show in adults 18-49 (1.7/7) and was the night’s top entertainment program with total viewers (8.6 million). 

•“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (7 p.m. – 6.7 million and 1.1/5 in AD18-49):

Starting out the night, ABC’s “America’s Funniest Home Videos” won its hour with adults 18-49, beating runner-up CBS’ “60 Minutes” by 10 percent (1.1/5 vs. 1.0/4). “AFV” shot up from its most-recent telecast (5.1 million and 0.8/4 on Feb. 17) by 31 percent in total viewers and by 38 percent in adults 18-49, marking the show’s most-watched telecast overall in more than four years.

•“American Idol” (8 p.m. – 8.6 million and 1.7/7 in AD18-49):

Spiking over its lead-in at 8 p.m. (up 28 percent /55 percent), the “American Idol” premiere dominated NBC’s “World of Dance” slot premiere head-to-head in the two-hour time period, leading by 105 percent in total viewers (8.6 million vs. 4.2 million) and by 70 percent in adults 18-49 (1.7/7 vs. 1.0/4). “American Idol” opened its second season 8 percent above its season 1 L+SD Sunday night average in total viewers (8.6 million vs. 8.0 million) and held even in adults 18-49 (1.7/7 vs. 1.7/6). In addition, “Idol” bested its Monday May season one finale by 6 percent in adults 18-49 (1.6/6). The unscripted series also delivered season highs for ABC in the two-hour time slot with series programming.

•“Shark Tank” (10 p.m. – 4.2 million and 0.9/4 in AD18-49):

“Shark Tank” ranked No. 1 in its hour by 29 percent over NBC’s “Good Girls” premiere among young adults (0.9/4 vs. 0.7/3) and delivered season highs with series programming in the slot with total viewers (4.2 million) and adults 18-49 (0.9/4).

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 3/3/19.