The Walt Disney Company 2004 Annual Report
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ABC ENTERTAINMENT
For the 2004-05 season, ABC Entertainment crafted a primetime schedule that was applauded by critics and media buyers across the nation. These efforts led The Atlanta Journal & Constitution to write "...ABC executives unveiled the most aggressive line-up of new programming among all networks..." and TV Guide to state "Simply put: Of all the networks, ABC's got the best crop of new fall shows…"

Among the new series that prompted this enthusiastic response were Desperate Housewives, Lost, Wife Swap, and Boston Legal (the spinoff from the highly successful, Emmy Award®-winning drama The Practice). Adding to the excitement were the “Best Actor” and “Best Guest Star in a Drama Series” Emmy wins by James Spader and William Shatner for the characters that they portray in Boston Legal. These programs joined successful returning series 8 Simple Rules, According to Jim, Alias, The Bachelor, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, George Lopez, Hope & Faith, My Wife and Kids and
NYPD Blue.

This early buzz was reinforced by the strong premieres for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Wife Swap and Boston Legal, and the extraordinary debuts of Lost and Desperate Housewives. In fact, Desperate Housewives and Lost have become the two highest-rated new series on any network this season, allowing ABC to become the first network in seven years to have two new shows reach the Top 10 among young adult viewers so early in the season.

This momentum carried through the November Sweep, where ABC was the only network to post gains in total viewers and across all key demographic categories. ABC had its most competitive Sweep performance among adults 18-49 in two years, ranking second in this key sales demographic, while finishing in first place among adults 18-34. This was the network’s top ranking in this demographic during any sweep period in the last 10 years.

 

ABC's Desperate Housewives is the number one new show on television this season.

ABC's Desperate Housewives is the number one new show on television this season.

ABC's Lost is the number two new show on television this season behind Desperate Housewives.

ABC's Lost is the number two new show on television this season behind Desperate Housewives.

Emmy-winners James Spader and William Shatner in Boston Legal.

Emmy-winners James Spader and William Shatner in Boston Legal.

According to Jim, starring Jim Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith.

According to Jim, starring Jim Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition makes deserving families' dreams come true.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition makes deserving families' dreams come true.