"Wipeout" Scores Its Best Numbers Since May/"Rookie Blue" Is #1 at 10pm in Viewers Two Weeks in a Row

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

At 8pm, ABC's Wipeout grew week to week by 8% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49 to deliver its best performance since the end of May - since 5/30/13. In addition, the ABC unscripted series shot up by 33% in Adults 18-34 to match a summer-high. Wipeout improved over original programming on the year-ago night (Duets) by 10% in Adults 18-49.

From 9-10pm, ABC's Motive drew a larger audience than NBC's The Winner Is for the 2nd week in a row (+18%).

At 10 o'clock, ABC's Rookie Blue was the most-watched program in the hour for the 2nd consecutive week, increasing its lead over NBC's Hollywood Game Night to 1.3 million Total Viewers (versus nearly 1 million viewers last week). The ABC drama was up over the prior week by 10% in Adults 18-49 and by 7% in Adults 25-54. In addition, Rookie Blue grew its overall audience over the comparable week last summer (+4%) for the 4th original telecast in a row.

Quick Take for Thursday, July 18, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "Wipeout" Grows to its Best Numbers Since May in Viewers and Adults 18-49

ABC's "Motive" Outdraws NBC's "The Winner Is" for the 2nd Consecutive Week

ABC's "Rookie Blue" is the Most-Watched Series in its 10pm Slot For the 2nd Straight Week and Builds Week to Week in Key Adults

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Wipeout" grew week to week by 8% in Total Viewers (4.2 million vs. 3.9 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4 vs. 1.0/4) to deliver its best performance since the end of May - since 5/30/13. In addition, the ABC unscripted series shot up by 33% in Adults 18-34 to match a summer high. "Wipeout" improved over original programming on the year-ago night ("Duets" on 7/19/12 = 1.0/3) by 10% in Adults 18-49.

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

From 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Motive" drew a larger overall audience than NBC's "The Winner Is" for the 2nd week in a row (+18% - 4.6 million vs. 3.9 million).

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

At 10 o'clock, ABC's "Rookie Blue" was the most-watched program in the hour (5.2 million) for the 2nd consecutive week, increasing its lead over NBC's "Hollywood Game Night" (3.9 million) to 1.3 million Total Viewers (versus nearly 1 million viewers last week). The ABC drama was up over the prior week by 10% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/3 vs. 1.0/3) and by 7% in Adults 25-54 (1.5/4 vs. 1.4/4). In addition, "Rookie Blue" grew its overall audience over the comparable week last summer (+4% - 5.0 million on 7/19/12) for the 4th original telecast in a row.

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 Ratings, 07/18/13.