ABC's Wipeout Tops CBS' Big Brother in Adults 18-49

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

Primetime 8-11pm: ABC's summer Thursday line-up ranked No. 1 on the night against its broadcast rivals in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), defeating CBS by 6% (1.7/6), Fox by 20% (1.5/5) and NBC by 80% (1.0/5).

Registering strong year-to-year improvement on Thursday, ABC increased its performance from the same night last summer (7/16/09) by 3.0 Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 3.3 million) and by 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.896 vs. 0.9/3). In fact the Network saw its 6th consecutive Thursday of year-to-year primetime gains.

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

ABC's "Wipeout" won the 8 o'clock hour in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, beating its unscripted competition in the time period, CBS' "Big Brother 12," by 11% in viewers (7.8 million vs. 7.0 million) and by 9% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/9 vs. 2.3/9). In fact, with "Wipeout," ABC topped the Thursday edition of CBS' "Big Brother" among Adults 18-49 for the first time in nearly 10 years - since 8/17/00. In addition, the ABC unscripted series held the No. 1 position in the hour for the 4th straight week in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 (2.9/10) and key Men (M18-49/M25-54).

"Wipeout" qualified as Thursday's No. 1 program in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while standing as the top TV series in Adults 25-54 and Men 25-54 for the 4th week in a row.

"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 at 9:00 p.m. in Total Viewers (6.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.7/6), while leading the hour for the 2nd time in the last 3 weeks in Adults 25-54 (2.3/7) and Men 25-54 (2.0/6).

"Rookie Blue" continued to register big year-to-year increases for ABC in the hour, more than doubling the Net's performance among Total Viewers (+3.7 million - 6.4 million vs. 2.7 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+113% - 1.7/6 vs. 0.8/3), 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 (4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.3/4).

Versus the year-ago night, "Boston Med" boosted the 10 o'clock hour for ABC by 1.8 million viewers and by 44% in Adults 18-49 (2.9 million and 0.9/3).

Quick Take for Thursday, July 15, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is No. 1 in Adults 18-49 Among the Broadcasters, Growing from the Year-Ago Thursday for the 6th Consecutive Week in Viewers and Young Adults

ABC's "Wipeout" Tops "Big Brother" in Adults 18-49, Marking the First Time in Nearly 10 Years that ABC Has Beaten the CBS Program Among Young Adults

"Wipeout" Leads at 8pm and Stands as Thursday's No. 1 Program in Viewers and Young Adults

The Summer's No. 1 New TV Series, ABC's "Rookie Blue" Takes Second at 9pm in Viewers and Young Adults, While Ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Men 25-54

"Boston Med" Improves the 10pm Hour Year to Year For ABC by 1.8 Million Viewers and by 44% in Adults 18-49

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

ABC's summer Thursday lineup ranked No. 1 on the night against its broadcast rivals in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), defeating CBS by 6% (1.7/6), Fox by 20% (1.5/5) and NBC by 80% (1.0/5).

· Registering strong year-to-year improvement on Thursday, ABC increased its performance from the same night last summer (7/16/09) by 3.0 Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 3.3 million) and by 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6 vs. 0.9/3). In fact the Network saw its 6th consecutive Thursday of year-to-year primetime gains.

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

ABC's "Wipeout" won the 8 o'clock hour in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, beating its unscripted competition in the time period, CBS' "Big Brother 12," by 11% in viewers (7.8 million vs. 7.0 million) and by 9% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/9 vs. 2.3/9). In fact, with "Wipeout," ABC topped the Thursday edition of CBS' "Big Brother" among Adults 18-49 for the first time in nearly 10 years - since 8/17/00. In addition, the ABC unscripted series also held the No. 1 position in the hour for the 4th straight week in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 (2.9/10) and key Men (M18-49/M25-54).

· "Wipeout" qualified as Thursday's No. 1 program in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while standing as the top TV series in Adults 25-54 and Men 25-54 for the 4th week in a row.

"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 at 9:00 p.m. in Total Viewers (6.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.7/6), while leading the hour for the 2nd time in the last 3 weeks in Adults 25-54 (2.3/7) and Men 25-54 (2.0/6).

· "Rookie Blue" continued to register big year-to-year increases for ABC in the hour, more than doubling the Net's performance among Total Viewers (+3.7 million - 6.4 million vs. 2.7 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+113% - 1.7/6 vs. 0.8/3) 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 (4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.3/4).

· Versus the year-ago night, "Boston Med" boosted the 10 o'clock hour for ABC by 1.8 million viewers and by 44% in Adults 18-49 (2.9 million and 0.9/3).

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), 7/15/10.