ABC's AWC and Mistresses Post Best-Since-Premiere Ratings in AD18-49 / Rookie Blue Draws its Largest Audience this Season

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

Thursday (07/09/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

AWC: Live + 3 = 6.6 million/1.2 rating and Live + 7 = 7.2 million/1.3 rating

Mistresses: Live + 3 = 5.3 million/1.2 rating and Live + 7 = 5.8 million/1.3 rating

Rookie Blue: Live + 3 = 6.1 million/1.0 rating and Live + 7 = 6.7 million/1.1 rating

The Astronaut Wives Club (8-9pm - 4.3 million and 0.8/3 in AD18-49): ABC's The Astronaut Wives Club grew week to week by 5% in Total Viewers (4.3 million vs. 4.1 million) and by 14% in Adults 18-49 (0.8/3 vs. 0.7/3), tying a best-since-premiere rating in young adults - since 6/18/15. In the 8pm hour, the new ABC drama (4.3 million) outdrew NBC's Food Fighters (3.3 million) and Fox's Boom! (2.2 million) in Total Viewers, while beating its freshman competition on Fox by 14% in Adults 18-49 (0.8/3 vs. 0.7/3).

· Up over original drama programming on the year-ago night for the 4th week in a row, The Astronaut Wives Club grew over Black Box on the same night last year (3.7 million and 0.7/3 on 7/10/14) by double digits in Total Viewers (+16%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%).

Mistresses (9-10pm - 3.5 million and 0.8/3 in AD18-49): Mistresses posted double-digit gains from the prior week in Total Viewers (+17% - 3.5 million vs. 3.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+33% - 0.8/3 vs. 0.6/3) to score its best numbers since its season premiere 3 weeks ago - since 6/18/15. From 9-10pm, ABC's Mistresses outdelivered NBC's Aquarius in the hour for the 4th straight week and by its largest margins yet, increasing its advantages to 40% in Total Viewers (3.5 million vs. 2.5 million) and 60% in Adults 18-49 (0.8/3 vs. 0.5/2).

· Last week's episode of Mistresses nearly doubled its Live + Same Day Adult 18-49 rating, growing from a 0.6 to a 1.1 (+83%) after 3 days of TV playback. The ABC drama increased its playback growth for the 2nd consecutive week (+44% to +71% to +83%) to post a new L+3 playback high among Adults 18-49.

Rookie Blue (10-11pm - 4.2 million and 0.7/2 in AD18-49): ABC's Rookie Blue shot up 17% in Adults 18-49 (0.7/2 vs. 0.6/2) over its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating and was even with its adjusted National number to match a season high. Rookie Blue was up week to week by 11% in Total Viewers (4.2 million vs. 3.8 million), drawing its biggest overall audience so far this season.

· At 10pm, Rookie Blue built on its lead-in (+20%) to take 2nd in the hour in Total Viewers to CBS' Under the Dome. The ABC drama gained audience from its first to second half-hour in Viewers (+2%), while the competing CBS and NBC dramas declined on the half-hour.

Quick Take for Thursday, July 9, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"The Astronaut Wives Club" Matches its Best Adult 18-49 Rating Since its Debut

ABC's "Mistresses" Grows by Double Digits to Deliver Best-Since-Premiere Results, While Dominating NBC's "Aquarius" Head to Head by its Biggest Margins Yet

In the 10pm Hour, ABC's "Rookie Blue" Posts Season Highs

Thursday (07/09/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"AWC": Live + 3 = 6.6 million/1.2 rating and Live + 7 = 7.2 million/1.3 rating

"Mistresses": Live + 3 = 5.3 million/1.2 rating and Live + 7 = 5.8 million/1.3 rating

"Rookie Blue": Live + 3 = 6.1 million/1.0 rating and Live + 7 = 6.7 million/1.1 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

"The Astronaut Wives Club" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 4.3 million and 0.8/3 in AD18-49):

ABC's "The Astronaut Wives Club" grew week to week by 5% in Total Viewers (4.3 million vs. 4.1 million) and by 14% in Adults 18-49 (0.8/3 vs. 0.7/3), tying a best-since-premiere rating in young adults - since 6/18/15. In the 8:00 p.m. hour, the new ABC drama (4.3 million) outdrew NBC's "Food Fighters" (3.3 million) and Fox's "Boom!" (2.2 million) in Total Viewers, while beating its freshman competition on Fox by 14% in Adults 18-49 (0.8/3 vs. 0.7/3).

· Up over original drama programming on the year-ago night for the 4th week in a row, "The Astronaut Wives Club" grew over "Black Box" on the same night last year (3.7 million and 0.7/3 on 7/10/14) by double digits in Total Viewers (+16%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%).

"Mistresses" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 3.5 million and 0.8/3 in AD18-49):

"Mistresses" posted double-digit gains from the prior week in Total Viewers (+17% - 3.5 million vs. 3.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+33% - 0.8/3 vs. 0.6/3) to score its best numbers since its season premiere 3 weeks ago - since 6/18/15. From 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Mistresses" outdelivered NBC's "Aquarius" in the hour for the 4th straight week and by its largest margins yet, increasing its advantages to 40% in Total Viewers (3.5 million vs. 2.5 million) and 60% in Adults 18-49 (0.8/3 vs. 0.5/2).

· Last week's episode of "Mistresses" nearly doubled its Live + Same Day Adult 18-49 rating, growing from a 0.6 to a 1.1 (+83%) after 3 days of TV playback. The ABC drama increased its playback growth for the 2nd consecutive week (+44% to +71% to +83%) to post a new L+3 playback high among Adults 18-49.

"Rookie Blue" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.2 million and 0.7/2 in AD18-49):

ABC's "Rookie Blue" shot up 17% in Adults 18-49 (0.7/2 vs. 0.6/2) over its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating and was even with its adjusted National number to match a season high. "Rookie Blue" was up week to week by 11% in Total Viewers (4.2 million vs. 3.8 million), drawing its biggest overall audience so far this season.

· At 10:00 p.m., "Rookie Blue" built on its lead-in (+20%) to take 2nd in the hour in Total Viewers to CBS' "Under the Dome." The ABC drama gained audience from its first to second half-hour in Viewers (+2%), while the competing CBS and NBC dramas declined on the half-hour.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 49% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2014-15 season for premiere telecast or an average for originals (excluding the premiere). Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals). New Series: Based on similar series.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 7/9/15.