ABC's "Rookie Blue" Scores its Best Adults 18-49 Rating in Over 1 Year

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

ABC was the 2nd-most-watched network on Thursday night to a Big Brother-boosted CBS. In addition, ABC defeated Fox by 18% in Adults 18-49 and more than doubled the young adult delivery of NBC (+117%).

At 8pm, the season finale of ABC's Duets finished second in the hour among Total Viewers, outdrawing Fox's unscripted series, Take Me Out, by 1.4 million viewers.

Surging over its lead-in by double-digit margins in Total Viewers (+11%) and Adults 18-49 (+78%), ABC's Wipeout ranked #2 in the 9pm hour to CBS' Big Brother. The broad-appealing series made ABC the top-rated broadcaster in the time slot in Teens 12-17, while finishing as Thursday's #1 broadcast program in Kids 2-11. Wipeout easily defeated NBC's original summer drama in the hour, beating Saving Hope by 2.0 million viewers and 220% in Adults 18-49.

· Wipeout grew from its first half-hour to its second half-hour by 10% in viewers and by 13% among young adults.

At 10 o'clock, ABC's Rookie Blue ranked #1 among Adults 25-54, while beating its CBS and NBC time period competition in Adults 18-49.

· The ABC drama grew week to week by 6% in Total Viewers, by 17% in Adults 18-49 and by 7% in Adults 25-54. In fact, Rookie Blue matched its best Adult 18-49 rating in over 1 year - since 7/7/11.

Quick Take for Thursday, July 19, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Season Finale of "Duets" is the 2nd-Most-Watched Show at 8pm

Soaring Over its Lead-in, ABC's "Wipeout" is No. 2 in its Slot to CBS' "Big Brother"

ABC's "Rookie Blue" Delivers its Best Performance in Over 1 Year in Adults 18-49

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

ABC was the 2nd-most-watched network (4.8 million) on Thursday night to a "Big Brother"-boosted CBS. In addition, among Adults 18-49, ABC (1.3/4) defeated Fox by 18% (1.1/4) and more than doubled NBC (+117% - 0.6/2).

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

At 8:00 p.m., the season finale of ABC's "Duets" finished second in the hour among Total Viewers, outdrawing Fox's unscripted series, "Take Me Out," by 1.4 million viewers (4.5 million vs. 3.1 million).

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

Surging over its lead-in by double-digit margins in Total Viewers (+11%) and Adults 18-49 (+78%), ABC's "Wipeout" ranked No. 2 in the 9:00 p.m. hour to CBS' "Big Brother 14." The broad-appealing series made ABC the top-rated broadcaster in the time-slot in Teens 12-17, while finishing as Thursday's No. 1 broadcast program in Kids 2-11. "Wipeout" easily defeated NBC's original summer drama in the hour, beating "Saving Hope" by 2.0 million viewers (5.0 million vs. 3.0 million) and 220% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/5 vs. 0.5/2).

· "Wipeout" grew from its first half-hour to its second half-hour by 10% in viewers (4.8 million to 5.3 million) and by 13% among young adults (1.5/5 to 1.7/5).

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

At 10 o'clock, ABC's "Rookie Blue" ranked No. 1 among Adults 25-54 (1.6/4), while beating its CBS and NBC time period competition in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4).

· The ABC drama grew week to week by 6% in Total Viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.7 million), by 17% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.2/4) and by 7% in Adults 25-54 (1.6/4 vs. 1.5/4). In fact, "Rookie Blue" matched its best Adult 18-49 rating in over 1 year - since 7/7/11.

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 44% currently, from 41% 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), 07/19/12.