'V' Caps A Strong Development Season For ABC

DAVID BAUDER

NEW YORK (AP) — The strong premiere of ABC's science fiction series "V'' caps an unusually strong development season for the network.

Opening week of the Earth-invaders series was seen by 14.3 million viewers, the Nielsen Co. said. That was the second-best new series debut for the season behind the CBS spinoff "NCIS: Los Angeles," and it was the most-watched scripted show of the week among the youthful demographic ABC covets.

Three of ABC's new scripted series — also including "Modern Family" and "Flash Forward" — finished among the 32 most-watched prime-time shows last week. CBS had two of its new series within the top 32, Nielsen said. By contrast, Fox's "Bones" was its only scripted series — new or returning — in Nielsen's top 32. NBC had none at all.

Diane Sawyer's interview with Rihanna on Friday gave "20/20" its biggest audience among viewers ages 18 to 34 in three years, Nielsen said.

Even with all that good news, ABC finished only third for the week. Fox was helped by the conclusion of the World Series between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, which was seen by 43 percent more people, on average, than last year's Phillies victory over Tampa Bay.