ABC's "101 Ways" Hits Series Highs Out of a Repeat "Wipeout"

Some early info, ahead of ABC's regular Tuesday night ratings release.

From 8-9pm, ABC's repeat Wipeout ran #2 in Adults 18-49 to the opening hour of NBC's 3-hour America's Got Talent.

Against the second hour of America's Got Talent from 9-10pm, ABC's 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show surged over its lead-in by 19% in Adults 18-49 to hold a series-high in the key young adult sales demo. In addition, the show hit series-bests with key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49).

· 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show drastically improved its time period year to year for ABC, topping an original airing of the gamer Downfall on the same night last summer by 1.3 million viewers and by 58% in Adults 18-49.

Up against the final hour of America's Got Talent and CBS' 48 Hours Mystery special on Casey Anthony at 10pm, ABC's Combat Hospital retained 100% of its audience week to week in Adults 18-49. The new ABC drama qualified as the #1 scripted TV show in the hour with key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54) for the 3rd week running.

· Versus the year-ago evening with original programming, ABC's Combat Hospital grew its hour by 13% in overall viewers year to year.

Quick Take for Tuesday, July 5, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Jumping Over its Most Recent Replay in the Slot, ABC's "Wipeout" Ranks No. 2 To NBC's Opening Hour of 3 Hours of "America's Got Talent" in Adults 18-49

Building by 19% Among Adults 18-49 on "Wipeout" Against "Talent," ABC's "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" Improves its Time Slot by 58% Year to Year

ABC's "Combat Hospital" Grows its Hour Year Over Year in Total Viewers

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

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "Wipeout" finished No. 2 in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5) to the opening hour of NBC's 3 hours of "America's Got Talent."

· "Wipeout" built sharply from its most recent repeat in the hour in mid-June (6/14/11), shooting up by 3.6 million viewers (5.1 million vs. 3.5 million) and by 60% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5 vs. 1.0/3).

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

Opposite the second hour of "America's Got Talent" from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" surged over its lead-in by 19% in Adults 18-49 to hold a series-high in the key young adult sales demo (1.9/5). In addition, the show hit series-bests with key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49).

· "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" drastically improved its time period year to year for ABC, topping an original airing of the gamer "Downfall" on the same night last summer (7/6/10) by 1.3 million viewers (4.9 million vs. 3.6 million) and by 58% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.2/3).

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

Up against the final hour of "America's Got Talent" and CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" special on Casey Anthony at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Combat Hospital" retained 100% of its audience week to week in Adults 18-49 (1.1/3). The new ABC drama qualified as the No. 1 scripted TV show in the hour with key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54) for the 3rd week running.

· Versus the year-ago evening with original programming ("Primetime Nightline: Mind Games"), ABC's "Combat Hospital" grew its hour by 13% in overall viewers (4.3 million vs. 3.8 million) year to year.

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 Program Ratings), 7/5/11.