ABC11 Keeps Moving Up This May

Raleigh, NC, May 30, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Call it May momentum for ABC11! With May sweeps just completed, ABC11 Eyewitness News continues its steady growth year-to-year, with increases in household ratings at 5 a.m., 5:30 a.m., 6 a.m., noon, and 5:30 p.m. But that’s not all. Eyewitness News also grew closer to its nearest competitor in every Monday through Friday newscast starting from 5 a.m. In fact, at 11 p.m., ABC11 Eyewitness News closed the gap to within 1 household rating point this year, from 3 rating points last year.

With the year to year growth in the morning news, and the strength of ABC’s Good Morning America, ABC11 maintains its #1 position in the morning news block of 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. And with the power of its daytime and primetime, the station also tied for #1, sign on to sign off, in Nielsen’s household book.

ABC’s primetime also shined in May sweeps. Dancing with the Stars was the #1 reality show in the region, easily beating American Idol and The Voice; and Scandal, Castle and Grey’s Anatomy were among the area’s top dramas.

Perhaps the biggest news to come out of May sweeps, however, was ABC’s announcement of the rollout of the much anticipated WATCH ABC service. ABC11 will be the first local station to provide this live streaming service in the region.

The new WATCH ABC service provides viewers for the first time ever with live access to their favorite ABC shows and local market programming, as well as a variety of on-demand content -- in more ways than ever before at home and on the go around town. In addition to allowing live linear streaming of viewers’ local ABC stations, the new authenticated WATCH ABC service will include the great, on-demand, full-episode viewing experience that the ABC Full-Episode Player and ABC Player app have offered, respectively, online and via tablets and phones. Viewers can access WATCH ABC online at ABC.com or by downloading the WATCH ABC app on their iOS or Kindle Fire devices. The WATCH ABC app will be available on Samsung Galaxy devices this summer.

Currently Disney/ABC Television Group has agreements in place for its authenticated WATCH products with a variety of Multichannel Video Program Distributors (MVPDs), including Comcast, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Midcontinent Communications and AT&T U-verse.

The WATCH project will roll out in the Triangle before the beginning of the fall season.

Contact: Andrea Mobley, 919-687-2242

Source: Nielsen, Live Same Day, April 25th to May 22nd, 2013