Midterms: ABC Loses Most Of “Dancing” Lead-In, But “Vote” Is Still #1 Among Nets

Thanks to “Dancing with the Stars,” ABC’s “Vote 2006” coverage was #1 on Election Night.

ABC averaged 9,670,000 viewers between 9:30 and 11pm and delivered a 3.3 in the 25-54 demo. NBC’s election coverage, from 10 to 11pm, averaged 7,189,000 viewers, the network says. CBS came in third place from 10 to 11pm with 7,080,000. NBC delivered a 2.9 in the demo and CBS had a 2.7.

ABC’s lead-in made it #1, but “Vote 2006” lost most of the “Dancing” audience (23 million from 9 to 9:30am). NBC only lost a million viewers compared to its lead-in; CBS lost about four million…

> Update: 6:17pm: ABC says NBC only averaged 7,000,000 viewers and CBS averaged 6,310,000…

> Update: 6:20pm: “A savvy last-minute scheduling shift enabled ABC News’ Charles Gibson to claim bragging rights as television’s elections source of choice in his first prime-time competition with NBC’s Brian Williams and Katie Couric of CBS,” the AP says…