ABC's "Motive" is Thursday's Most-Watched Series Debut/"Rookie Blue" Opens at #1 at 10pm with Its 2nd Biggest Audience Since 2010

From 8-9pm on Thursday, ABC's Wipeout was up week to week in viewers (+8%) and young adults (+20%). In the hour, the ABC unscripted series outperformed NBC's back-to-back debut episodes of Save Me by 1.0 million viewers and by 71% in Adults 18-49.

Building on its lead-in by 1.8 million viewers and holding 100% in Adults 18-49, ABC's Motive was the most-watched series debut on Thursday and ran neck-and-neck in its hour with Fox's Hell's Kitchen-led debut of Does Someone Have to Go? with young adults. Despite lower viewing levels, Motive held more than 90% of its Monday preview coming out of the Dancing finale in Total Viewers (91%), Adults 18-49 (94%) and Adults 18-34 (100%), while spiking with key Men: Men 18-34 (+40%) and Men 18-49 (+29%).

Holding all of its lead-in at 10pm, ABC's Rookie Blue opened its 4th season at #1 in the hour with Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, beating NBC's Hannibal. Rookie Blue was up 18% in Total Viewers from its 3rd season finale, topping its 12 previous telecasts back to its year-ago premiere on 5/24/12. In fact, the season opener also outdrew all of its Season 2 telecasts in Total Viewers, marking the series' 2nd-biggest audience since August 19, 2010. Rookie Blue outdelivered last season's finale in Adults 25-54 (+17%) and retained 100% of its closer in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Thursday, May 23, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "Wipeout" Jumps 20% Week to Week Among Adults 18-49

Thursday's Most-Watched New Series, ABC's "Motive" Holds Nearly All of its Monday Post-"Dancing" Preview in Viewers and Young Adults, while Spiking in Men

ABC's "Rookie Blue" Opens its 4th Season at No. 1, Drawing the Series' Biggest Audience in 1 Year and its 2nd-Most-Watched Telecast Since August 2010

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

From 8:00-9:00 p.m. on Thursday, ABC's "Wipeout" was up week to week in viewers (+8%) and young adults (+20%). In the hour, the ABC unscripted series outperformed NBC's back-to-back debut episodes of "Save Me" by 1.0 million viewers (4.1 million vs. 3.1 million) and by 71% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 0.7/2).

"Motive" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Building on its lead-in by 1.8 million viewers and holding 100% in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Motive" (5.9 million) was the most-watched new series on Thursday and ran neck and neck in its hour with Fox's "Hell's Kitchen"-led debut of "Does Someone Have to Go?" in young adults (1.2/4 vs. 1.3/4).

· Despite facing lower viewing levels in its regular slot, "Motive" held more than 90% of its Monday preview coming out of the "Dancing" finale in Total Viewers (91%), Adults 18-49 (92%) and Adults 18-34 (100%), while spiking with key Men: M18-34 (+40%) and M18-49 (+29%).

"Rookie Blue" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Holding all of its lead-in at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Rookie Blue" opened its 4th season at No. 1 in the hour with Total Viewers (6.0 million), Adults 18-49 (1.2/4) and Adults 25-54 (1.7/4), beating NBC's "Hannibal."

· "Rookie Blue" was up 18% in Total Viewers from its 3rd season finale (6.0 million vs. 5.1 million), topping its 12 previous telecasts back to its year-ago premiere (on 5/24/12). In fact the season opener also outdrew all of its Season 2 telecasts in Total Viewers, marking the series' 2nd-biggest audience since August 19, 2010. In addition, the show outdelivered last season's finale in Adults 25-54 (+17% - 1.7/4 vs. 1.5/4) and retained 100% of its closer in Adults 18-49.

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 48% currently, from 44% at the same point in 2012. 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, 05/23/13.