ABC's "The Taste" Is Up by Double Digits and Continues to Beat NBC's Thursday Comedies

The Taste (8-10pm - 3.9 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49): Opposite Fox's American Idol and the series debut of Rake from 8-10pm, ABC's The Taste grew by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+18%) and Adults 18-49 (+22%). Head to head in the 2-hour time period, the ABC unscripted show defeated NBC's comedies (Community/Parks and Recreation/ /The Michael J. Fox Show/Sean Saves the World) by 1.2 million viewers (3.9 million vs. 2.7 million) and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/3 vs. 0.9/3).

Shark Tank-R Night (10-11pm - 3.9 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49): Holding all of its lead-in at 10pm, an encore Shark Tank was up by 8% in Total Viewers to deliver a 4-week high in the hour for ABC - since 12/26/13.

Quick Take for Thursday, January 23, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"The Taste" is Up by Double Digits Week to Week in Viewers and Young Adults And Head-to-Head Outdelivers NBC's 2-Hour Comedy Block by Solid Margins

An Encore "Shark Tank" Builds to a 4-Week Viewership High for ABC at 10pm

"The Taste" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 3.9 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49):

Opposite Fox's "American Idol" and the series debut of "Rake" from 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "The Taste" grew by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+18%) and Adults 18-49 (+22%).

· Head-to-head in the 2-hour time period, the ABC unscripted show defeated NBC's comedies ("Community"/"Parks and Recreation"/"The Michael J. Fox Show"/"Sean Saves the World") by 1.2 million viewers (3.9 million vs. 2.7 million) and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/3 vs. 0.9/3).

"Shark Tank-R" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.9 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49):

Holding all of its lead-in at 10:00 p.m., an encore "Shark Tank" was up by 8% in Total Viewers to deliver a 4-week high in the hour for ABC - since 12/26/13.

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 increased to 49% currently, from 47% at the same point in 2013. 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 for 01/23/14.