ABC's "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" Builds on "Wipeout"/Beats "The Voice" in Teens

With a special preview of Wipeout leading into the debuts of 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show and Combat Hospital, ABC took second place to NBC (America's Got Talent/2-hour The Voice) on Tuesday among Adults 18-49.

In the 8pm hour against NBC's America's Got Talent and Fox's MasterChef, ABC's special summer sneak peak of Wipeout outdrew its unscripted competition on Fox by 1.2 million viewers. In addition, the broad-appealing Wipeout ranked #2 in the hour to America's Got Talent with Women 18-49, and was also the second-highest rated broadcast show in the slot with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11. Please Note: Wipeout's summer premiere is this coming Thursday (6/23/11) from 8-9pm.

· Despite facing stiff time-period competition, Wipeout built by 6% in Total Viewers and by 20% in Adults 18-49 from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

· In viewers and young adults, Wipeout generated ABC's top numbers in the hour this summer.

Opposite the opening hour of NBC's The Voice semi-finals edition from 9-10pm, ABC's debut of 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show built on its lead-in and gained audience during its broadcast to finish #2 in Adults 18-49. Impressively, the new ABC show beat NBC's The Voice by 11% in Teens 12-17 to stand as the #1 broadcast program on Tuesday evening.

· Like its lead-in 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show grew its audience throughout its broadcast, picking up 6% in viewers and 11% in young adults from start to finish.

At 10pm against the second hour of The Voice, the series debut of ABC's Combat Hospital retained a strong 96% of its lead-in to stand as the 2nd-most-watched TV show overall. The new ABC drama also finished #2 in the hour in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.

· Combat Hospital boosted the hour for ABC by a substantial 36% year to year in Total Viewers, topping the year-ago night with original programming.

Quick Take for Tuesday, June 21, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Takes Second Place on Tuesday to NBC Among Adults 18-49

Against "America's Got Talent," ABC's Sneak Peek "Wipeout" Builds Audience Throughout its Broadcast and Pulls ABC's Top Numbers in the Hour This Summer

Opposite the Opening Hour of "The Voice," ABC's Debut of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" Builds on Wipeout to Finish No. 2 in Adults 18-49 and No. 1 in Teens

Retaining Nearly All of its Lead-in and Improving its Time Slot Year to Year, ABC's Debut of "Combat Hospital" is the 2nd-Most-Watched TV Show in the 10pm Hour

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

With a special preview of "Wipeout" leading into the debuts of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" and "Combat Hospital," ABC took second place to NBC ("America's Got Talent"/2-hour "The Voice") on Tuesday among Adults 18-49 (1.6/5), beating Fox by 14% (1.4/4) and CBS by 45% (1.1/3).

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

In the 8:00 p.m. hour against NBC's "America's Got Talent" and Fox's "MasterChef," ABC's special summer sneak peek of "Wipeout" outdrew its unscripted competition on Fox by 1.2 million viewers (5.3 million vs. 4.1 million). In addition, the broad-appealing "Wipeout" ranked No. 2 in the hour to "America's Got Talent" with Women 18-49 (tie), and was also the second-highest rated broadcast show in the slot with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11. Please Note: "Wipeout's" summer premiere is this coming Thursday (6/23/11) from 8:00-9:00 p.m.

· Despite facing stiff time-period competition, "Wipeout" built by 6% in Total Viewers (5.2 million to 5.5 million) and by 20% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 to 1.8/6) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

· In viewers and young adults, "Wipeout" generated ABC's top numbers in the hour this summer.

"101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Opposite the opening hour of NBC's "The Voice" semi-finals edition from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's debut of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" built on its lead-in and gained audience during its broadcast to finish No. 2 in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5). Impressively, the new ABC show beat NBC's "The Voice" by 11% in Teens 12-17 (2.1/8 vs. 1.9/7) to stand as the No. 1 broadcast program on Tuesday evening.

· Like its lead-in, "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" grew its audience throughout its broadcast, picking up 6% in viewers (5.4 million to 5.7 million) and 11% in young adults (1.8/5 to 2.0/5) from start to finish.

"Combat Hospital" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

At 10:00 p.m. against the second hour of "The Voice," the series debut of ABC's "Combat Hospital" retained a strong 96% of its lead-in to stand as the 2nd-most-watched TV show overall (5.3 million). The new ABC drama also finished No. 2 in the hour in Adults 18-49 (1.2/3) and Adults 25-54 (1.6/4).

· "Combat Hospital" improved the hour for ABC by a substantial 36% year to year in Total Viewers, topping the year-ago night with original programming (5.3 million vs. 3.9 million for "Primetime: Mind Games").

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 41% currently, from 36% at the same point in 2010. 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), 6/21/11.