ABC's "Rookie Blue" Finale Spikes to 6-Week Highs

Early info on ABC's Thursday, ahead of the regular press release.

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's Wipeout grew week to week by 1.0 million viewers and by 18% in Adults 18-49.

Building audience for ABC at 9pm against stiff competition from CBS' Big Brother and the DNC coverage, ABC's 3rd season finale of Rookie Blue shot up week to week by 26% in Total Viewers and by 33% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the season closer of the ABC drama built audience throughout its telecast, picking up 4% in viewers and 9% in young adults from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

· In viewers and young adults, Rookie Blue closed out its season with 6-week highs - since 7/26/12.

· Compared to the first hour of its year-ago finale in the 9-11pm time period, Rookie Blue was up in both Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 18-49 (+20%).

Quick Take for Thursday, September 6, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"Wipeout" is Up Week to Week by 1.0 Million Viewers and by 18% in Adults 18-49

Spiking in its 3rd Season Finale, ABC's "Rookie Blue" Closes Out at 6-Week Highs

In its Finale, "Rookie Blue" Builds from its Year-Ago Performance in the Hour

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

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's "Wipeout" grew week to week by 1.0 million viewers (4.5 million vs. 3.5 million) and by 18% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.1/4).

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

Building audience for ABC at 9:00 p.m. against stiff competition from CBS' "Big Brother," MTV's "VMAs" and DNC coverage, ABC's 3rd season finale of "Rookie Blue" shot up week to week by 26% in Total Viewers (4.8 million vs. 3.8 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/3 vs. 0.9/3). In addition, the season closer of the ABC drama built audience throughout its telecast, picking up 4% in viewers and 9% in young adults from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

· In viewers and young adults, "Rookie Blue" closed out its season with 6-week highs - since 7/26/12.

· Compared to the first hour of its year-ago finale in the 9:00-11:00 p.m. time period, "Rookie Blue" was up in both Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 18-49 (+20%).

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 45% currently, from 42% at the same point in 2011. 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), 09/06/12.