ABC's WIPEOUT Finishes with Biggest Audience in a Month

Spiking week to week in viewers (+26%) and young adults (+27%) against stiff competition from Fox's "The X Factor" and NBC's season premiere, in its season finale ABC's "Wipeout" drew its biggest audience (4.4 million) in a month and equaled a 5-week high in the hour with Adults 18-49 (1.4/4) - since 8/23/12 and 8/16/12, respectively.

Jumping by 25% from its first half-hour to its second half-hour in Adults 18-49, "Wipeout" beat out NBC's sophomore season premiere of "Up All Night" by 15% (1.5/4 vs. 1.3/4) from 8:30-9:00 p.m. In addition, the broad-appealing ABC unscripted series finished as the No. 2 broadcast program in its slot with Teens 12-17 (0.8/3-tie) and Kids 2-11 (1.2/4), behind only "The X Factor."

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 45% currently, from 42% 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), 09/20/12.