ABC's Wipeout Outdraws CBS' Big Brother Premiere

Some early points on ABC's Thursday, ahead of the regular press release.

Primetime 8-11pm: ABC (1.7/5), CBS (1.8/6) and Fox (1.7/5) finished in a virtual-tie for the network lead on Thursday in Adults 18-49.

· ABC once again exhibited strong year-to-year improvement on Thursday, more than doubling its numbers from the same night last summer (7/9/09) among Total Viewers (+137% - 6.4 million vs. 2.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+113% - 1.7/5 vs. 0.8/3). In fact the Network registered its 5th straight Thursday of year-to-year primetime gains.

"Wipeout-THURS" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Up against CBS' season premiere of "Big Brother 12," ABC's "Wipeout" finished as the most-watched program (7.9 million) in the 8 o'clock hour for the 3rd week in a row. The ABC unscripted series also held the No. 1 position in the hour Adults 18-49 (2.4/8-tie), Adults 25-54 (2.9/9-tie) and key Men (M18-49/M25-54). In fact among viewers and young adults, ABC marked its best-ever performance against the Thursday premiere of "Big Brother."

· For the 3rd consecutive week, Wipeout qualified as Thursday's No. 1 TV series in Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and key Men (M18-49/M25-54).

"Rookie Blue" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

TV's No. 1 new series of the summer, ABC's "Rookie Blue" ran a strong second, against its established series competition on CBS ("CSI"), NBC ("Community"/"Community") and Fox ("So You Think You Can Dance") in its time period, among Total Viewers (6.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.6/5). The new ABC drama ranked as the No. 1 TV series in the hour for the 3rd week in a row with Men 25-54 (1.8/5). Please Note: ESPN's highly-anticipated LeBron James "Decision" special aired live in the hour (ET).

· "Rookie Blue" continued to produce big year-to-year gains for ABC in the hour among Total Viewers (+3.8 million - 6.4 million vs. 2.6 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+100% - 1.6/5 vs. 0.8/2), over its performance on the year-ago night.

"Boston Med" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC News' "Boston Med" took second place in the 10 o'clock hour against its CBS and NBC competition with Total Viewers (5.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.1/4).

· Versus the year-ago night, "Boston Med" boosted the 10 o'clock hour for ABC by 2.8 million viewers and by 83% in Adults 18-49 (2.2 million and 0.6/2).

Quick Take for Thursday, July 8, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

More than Doubling its Numbers Year-to-Year, ABC Builds Over the Year-Ago Thursday for the 5th Straight Week in Viewers and Young Adults

Up Against the Season Premiere of "Big Brother," ABC's "Wipeout" Finishes The Most-Watched TV Show in the 8 O'clock Hour for the 3rd Week in a Row

The Summer's No. 1 New TV Series, ABC's "Rookie Blue" Continues to Generate Big Time Period Improvement

"Boston Med" Boosts the 10pm Hour Year to Year For ABC by 2.8 Million Viewers and by 83% in Adults 18-49

Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC (1.7/5), CBS (1.8/6) and Fox (1.7/5) finished in a virtual-tie for the network lead on Thursday in Adults 18-49.

· ABC once again exhibited strong year-to-year improvement on Thursday, more than doubling its numbers from the same night last summer (7/9/09) among Total Viewers (+137% - 6.4 million vs. 2.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+113% - 1.7/5 vs. 0.8/3). In fact the Network registered its 5th straight Thursday of year-to-year primetime gains.

"Wipeout-THURS" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Up against CBS' season premiere of "Big Brother 12," ABC's "Wipeout" finished as the most-watched program (7.9 million) in the 8 o'clock hour for the 3rd week in a row. The ABC unscripted series also held the No. 1 position in the hour Adults 18-49 (2.4/8-tie), Adults 25-54 (2.9/9-tie) and key Men (M18-49/M25-54). In fact among viewers and young adults, ABC marked its best-ever performance against the Thursday premiere of "Big Brother."

· For the 3rd consecutive week, Wipeout qualified as Thursday's No. 1 TV series in Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and key Men (M18-49/M25-54).

"Rookie Blue" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

TV's No. 1 new series of the summer, ABC's "Rookie Blue" ran a strong second, against its established series competition on CBS ("CSI"), NBC ("Community"/"Community") and Fox ("So You Think You Can Dance") in its time period, among Total Viewers (6.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.6/5). The new ABC drama ranked as the No. 1 TV series in the hour for the 3rd week in a row with Men 25-54 (1.8/5). Please Note: ESPN's highly-anticipated LeBron James "Decision" special aired live in the hour (ET).

· "Rookie Blue" continued to produce big year-to-year gains for ABC in the hour among Total Viewers (+3.8 million - 6.4 million vs. 2.6 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+100% - 1.6/5 vs. 0.8/2), over its performance on the year-ago night.

"Boston Med" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC News' "Boston Med" took second place in the 10 o'clock hour against its CBS and NBC competition with Total Viewers (5.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.1/4).

· Versus the year-ago night, "Boston Med" boosted the 10 o'clock hour for ABC by 2.8 million viewers and by 83% in Adults 18-49 (2.2 million and 0.6/2).

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 37% currently, from 32% at the same point in 2009. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next-day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 7/8/10.