ABC Unveils 2008-09 Primetime Schedule

Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment, today outlined ABC's plans for next season and unveiled the network's 2008-09 fall schedule before the advertising and media communities at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

Scheduled to debut this fall are new drama "Life on Mars," and new alternative series "Opportunity Knocks" from executive producer Ashton Kutcher.

Returning series on the fall schedule are "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Boston Legal," "Brothers & Sisters," "Dancing with the Stars," "Desperate Housewives," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Eli Stone," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice," "Pushing Daisies," "Samantha Who?," "Supernanny," "Ugly Betty," "Wife Swap" and "20/20."

In addition, "Saturday Night College Football" will return for a fourth season.

New series for midseason include "The Goode Family," "Scrubs" and "Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project."

Other returning series include "According to Jim," The Bachelor, "Lost" and ABC News' "Primetime: What Would You Do?"

"We're returning our dominant core group of shows from last fall," said McPherson. "The few openings we had we've filled with the kind of quality programming viewers have come to expect from ABC, and we have a very strong bench. As always, our focus is on delivering the best stories and most memorable characters on TV every day of the week, every week of the year."

For the 2007-08 TV season, ABC holds second place to an "American Idol" and "Super Bowl"-driven Fox among Adults 18-49. The ABC airs 6 of the Top 15 TV shows this season in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic, including 3 of the Top 5 scripted series with "Desperate Housewives" (No. 1), "Grey's" (No. 3) and "Lost" (No. 5). In addition, 4 of the Top 6 most-watched television shows are on ABC. ABC claims 5 of the Top 10 freshman series this season, including the No. 1 new comedy in "Samantha Who?" (also the most-watched new scripted series this season). For the 3rd straight season the Network remains a top destination for affluent viewers, delivering 5 of the Top 10 highest-rated TV series and each of the Top 3 scripted shows among Adults 18-49 in homes w/$100K+ annual income.

ABC was a standout performer during Fall '07, prior to the strike-related scheduling disruptions, leading its nearest competition (CBS) from the start of the season through the end of November by 11% on average in Adults 18-49. Furthermore, ABC delivered the No. 1 position among young adults on 7 of the first 10 weeks this season, and ranked either first or second on 6 of 7 nights of the week throughout the fall. ABC won the November Sweep in Adults 18-49, its third consecutive year to hold the top spot for the month in the key sales demo.

Editors please note: Shows picked up but not listed on the schedule will debut later in the 2008-09 season. Photographs are available on HYPERLINK "http://www.abcmedianet.com" www.abcmedianet.com.

ABC's fall primetime schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern, with new shows in bold):

DAY TIME SERIES

MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars"

9:30 p.m. "Samantha Who?"

10:00 p.m. "Boston Legal"

TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Opportunity Knocks"

9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show"

10:00 p.m. "Eli Stone"

WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Pushing Daisies"

9:00 p.m. "Private Practice"

10:00 p.m. "Dirty Sexy Money"

THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty"