ABC's "Whodunnit?" Finale Is Up 27% to Score a Series High in Adults 18-49

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

At 7 o'clock opposite the opening hour of Fox's NFL preseason game (Colts-Giants), ABC's repeat America's Funniest Home Videos grew week to week by 5% in Total Viewers and by 13% in Adults 18-49 to draw its biggest overall audience and match its best young adult rating in 4 weeks - since 7/21/13.

In the 8pm hour against the NFL game on FOX, ABC's Secret Millionaire was up over the prior week by 9% in Adults 18-49 to equal its highest number in more than 1 year - since 7/15/12.

From 9-10pm, the season finale of ABC's Whodunnit? marked a series high among Adults 18-49 and was the show's 2nd-most-watched telecast. Growing for the 2nd week in a row, Whodunnit? scored solid double-digit gains in Total Viewers (+16%) and Adults 18-49 (+27%). Standing as the #2 broadcast program in the 9pm hour among Adults 18-49, Whodunnit? beat out CBS' Unforgettable by 27% and the first hour of NBC's Crossing Lines finale by 250%.

At 10pm, an encore of ABC's Castle dominated an original of NBC's Crossing Lines for the 4th straight telecast in Adults 18-49. Castle outdelivered the second hour of the Crossing Lines finale by 55% in Total Viewers and by 75% with young adults.

Quick Take for Sunday, August 18, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"America's Funniest Home Videos" Hits 4-Week Highs in Viewers and Adults 18-49

ABC's "Secret Millionaire" Grows to its Highest Adult 18-49 Rating in Over 1 Year

Opposite Fox's NFL Game, ABC's "Whodunnit?" Finale Scores a Series High In Adults 18-49 and Draws the Show's 2nd-Biggest-Ever Audience

ABC's Replay "Castle" Dominates NBC's "Crossing Lines" Finale in the 10pm Hour

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m.)

At 7 o'clock opposite the opening hour of Fox's NFL preseason game (Colts-Giants), ABC's repeat "America's Funniest Home Videos" grew week to week by 5% in Total Viewers (4.6 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 13% in Adults 18-49 (0.9/3 vs. 0.8/3) to draw its biggest overall audience and match its best young adult rating in 4 weeks - since 7/21/13.

"Secret Millionaire" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

In the 8:00 p.m. hour against the NFL preseason game on FOX, ABC's "Secret Millionaire" was up over the prior week by 9% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 1.1/3) to equal its highest number in more than 1 year - since 7/15/12.

"Whodunnit?" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Despite airing against Fox's NFL game, the season finale of ABC's "Whodunnit?" marked a series high among Adults 18-49 and was the show's 2nd-most-watched telecast. Growing for the 2nd week in a row, "Whodunnit?" scored solid double-digit gains in Total Viewers (+16% - 3.7 million vs. 3.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (+27% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.1/3). Standing as the No. 2 broadcast program in the 9:00 p.m. hour among Adults 18-49, "Whodunnit?" (1.4/4) beat out CBS' "Unforgettable" by 27% (1.1/3) and the first hour of NBC's "Crossing Lines" finale by 250% (0.4/1). Kam solved the murder mystery and was declared the winner of the $250,000 reward.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

At 10:00 p.m., an encore of ABC's "Castle" dominated an original of NBC's "Crossing Lines" for the 4th straight telecast in Adults 18-49. "Castle" outdelivered the second hour of "Crossing Lines'" finale by 55% in Total Viewers (3.1 million vs. 2.0 million) and by 75% with young adults (0.7/2 vs. 0.4/1).

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 45% 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, 08/18/13.