"Wipeout" Hits Summer-Highs for ABC

Gaining 15% week to week, ABC ranked #2 on Tuesday among Adults 18-49 to NBC with its 2-hour live semi-final round of America's Got Talent.

From 8-9pm, ABC's repeat Wipeout ran a strong #1 among Adults 18-49, beating runner up CBS' encore NCIS by 33% and pacing 82% ahead of NBC's original unscripted series It's Worth What? in the hour. In addition, the wide-appealing Wipeout made ABC the highest-rated broadcaster in the time slot with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11 for the 4th week running.

· The replay Wipeout equaled summer-highs for ABC in the hour among Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34.

Against the opening hour of NBC's America's Got Talent from 9-10pm, ABC's Take the Money & Run took second against its network rivals in Adults 18-49. In fact, the ABC freshman series tied NBC's veteran America's Got Talent in the hour with Men 18-34.

· Take the Money & Run surged by double-digit percentages week to week in viewers (+14%) and young adults (+14%).

· Take the Money & Run grew its hour year to year by 8% in Total Viewers, over the year-ago night with original unscripted programming (Shaq Vs. on 8/24/10)

At 10 o'clock against the second hour of NBC's America's Got Talent, ABC's Combat Hospital built its Adult 18-49 audience by 11% from the prior week to match an 8-week high - since 6/28/11.

Quick Take for Tuesday, August 23, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Finishing Second in Adults 18-49, ABC Posts Solid Week-to-Week Increases Opposite the Live Semi-Finals of NBC's "America's Got Talent"

Matching Summer Highs in Tuesday's 8pm Hour in Young Adults, ABC's Repeat "Wipeout" Ranks No. 1 in its Time Slot

ABC's "Take the Money & Run" Jumps by Double-Digit Percentages Week to Week

Growing 11% Over the Prior Week in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Combat Hospital" Reaches an 8-Week High

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

Gaining 15% week to week, ABC ranked No. 2 on Tuesday among Adults 18-49 (1.5/4-tie) to NBC with its 2-hour live semi-final round of "America's Got Talent."

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

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "Wipeout" ran a strong No. 1 among Adults 18-49 (2.0/6), beating runner-up CBS' encore "NCIS" by 33% (1.5/5) and pacing 82% ahead of NBC's original unscripted series "It's Worth What?" (1.1/3) in the hour. In addition, the wide-appealing "Wipeout" made ABC the highest-rated broadcaster in the time slot with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11 for the 4th week running.

· The replay "Wipeout" equaled summer highs for ABC in the hour among Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34 (1.7/6).

"Take the Money & Run" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Against the opening hour of NBC's "America's Got Talent" from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Take the Money & Run" took second against its network rivals in Adults 18-49 (1.6/4). In fact, the ABC freshman series tied NBC's veteran "America's Got Talent" in the hour with Men 18-34.

· "Take the Money & Run" surged by double-digit percentages week to week in viewers (+14% - 4.1 million vs. 3.6 million) and young adults (+14% - 1.6/4 vs. 1.4/4).

· "Take the Money & Run" grew its hour year to year by 8% in Total Viewers over the year-ago night with original unscripted programming ("Shaq Vs." on 8/24/10 = 3.8 million).

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

At 10 o'clock against the second hour of NBC's "America's Got Talent," ABC's "Combat Hospital" built its Adult 18-49 audience by 11% from the prior week (1.0/3 vs. 0.9/3) to match an 8-week high - since 6/28/11.

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 42% currently, from 38% 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), 8/23/11.