ABC's Thursday Lineup Posts Across-the-Board Gains

Up for the 2nd straight week at 8pm in viewers (+21%) and young adults (+8%), ABC's Wipeout matched a season-high in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC unscripted series pulled in its 2nd-largest audience this summer.

During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's Motive also posted its 2nd consecutive week of gains with Total Viewers (+16%) and Adults 18-49 (+38%), drawing its biggest audience in 8 weeks and hitting a 12-week high in young adults - since 6/27/13 and 5/30/13, respectively.

At 10pm, ABC's Rookie Blue ranked as the most-watched TV show in its time period for the 7th week running. The ABC drama grew for the 2nd consecutive week in Total Viewers (+13%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%) to equal its highest young adult number in 2 months - since 6/27/13. Rookie Blue was up over its performance on the same night last year by 26% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49. In fact, Rookie Blue is up 10% summer to summer in Total Viewers, delivering its most-watched season in 3 years - since Summer 2010.

Please Note: ABC's Thursday lineup was pre-empted in approximately 2.7% of the country for local NFL coverage.

Quick Take for Thursday, August 22, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"Wipeout" Posts its 2nd-Most-Watched Telecast this Summer And Equals a Season High Among Adults 18-49

"Motive" Earns its Biggest Audience in 8 Weeks and a 12-Week High in Young Adults

"Rookie Blue" is the Most-Watched TV Show in its Slot for the 7th Straight Week, While Continuing to Improve Year to Year for its Strongest Season in 3 Years

Please Note: ABC's Thursday lineup was pre-empted in approximately 2.7% of the country for local NFL coverage.

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

Up for the 2nd straight week at 8:00 p.m. in viewers (+21% - 4.5 million vs. 3.7 million) and young adults (+8% - 1.3/5 vs. 1.2/4), ABC's "Wipeout" matched a season high in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC unscripted series pulled in its 2nd-largest audience this summer.

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

During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Motive" also posted its 2nd consecutive week of gains with Total Viewers (+16% - 5.0 million vs. 4.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+38% - 1.1/3 vs. 0.8/3), drawing its biggest audience in 8 weeks and hitting a 12-week high in young adults - since 6/27/13 and 5/30/13, respectively.

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

At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Rookie Blue" ranked as the most-watched TV show in its time period for the 7th week running. The ABC drama grew for the 2nd consecutive week in Total Viewers (+13% - 5.3 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+10% - 1.1/3 vs. 1.0/3) to equal its highest young adult number in 2 months - since 6/27/13.

· "Rookie Blue" was up over its performance on the same night last year (4.2 million and 1.0/3 on 8/23/12) by 26% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49. In fact, "Rookie Blue" is up 10% summer to summer in Total Viewers (6.8 million vs. 6.2 million), delivering its most-watched season in 3 years - since Summer 2010.

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 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, 08/22/13.