ABC's BLACK BOX Season Finale Draws Biggest Audience in 5 Weeks

During the week of July 21, 2014, ABC's "The Bachelorette" finished among the Top 10 TV programs in both Total Viewers (No. 6) and Adults 18-49 (No. 9). In addition, "The Bachelorette" stood as the week's No. 1 TV telecast overall in Women 18-49. "20/20" ranked as the No. 1 newsmagazine for the 3rd week in a row in Adults 18-49 (tie) and Adults 25-54.

ABC was up year to year for the 5th straight week in Total Viewers (+3% - 3.9 million vs. 3.8 million on w/o 7/22/13).

Monday
ABC was Monday's most-watched network overall (6.0 million) and also led the night with key Women (W18-49/W25-54). ABC's "The Bachelorette" was Monday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers (topping CBS' "Under the Dome" for the first time ever) and key Women demos (W18-49/W25-54).

"The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 7.1 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:01 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All" ranked No. 1 in its 2-hour time period among Total Viewers (6.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.8/6-tie). In fact, the ABC unscripted series was No. 1 in its slot for its 8th consecutive 2-hour Monday telecast in viewers.

Rising 3% in Total Viewers and 6% in Adults 18-49 week to week (6.9 million and 1.7/5, respectively, on 7/14/14), "The Bachelorette" saw its most-watched telecast and equaled its best young adult performance since its season premiere 9 weeks ago - since 5/19/14.

"The Bachelorette" was the No. 1 most-social broadcast series on Monday night for the 6th straight week (69,753 tweets).

"Mistresses" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 3.7 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49):
During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Mistresses" held steady from its week-ago performance in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

ABC's "Mistresses" is seeing strong gains via TV playback, ranking among the Top 10 (No. 7) summer broadcast series. On average, the ABC sophomore drama jumps 60% in Adults 18-49 from the preliminary Live + Same Day ratings to Live + 7 Day ratings (from a 1.0 to a 1.6). In addition, the program adds 1.3 million Total Viewers to its average from L+SD to L7.

Thursday
"Black Box" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 3.9 million and 0.7/3 in AD18-49):
From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's season finale of "Black Box" grew week to week in Total Viewers (+5% - 3.9 million vs. 3.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% - 0.7/3 vs. 0.6/3), drawing its biggest audience in 5 weeks and matching its best young-adult number since May - since 6/19/14 and 5/29/14, respectively.

"NY Med" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49):
Building on its lead-in (+33%) at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "NY Med" finished as the most-watched TV show in the time period for the 5th week running (5.2 million), outdrawing its summer competition on NBC by 1.8 million viewers ("Last Comic Standing" = 3.4 million). "NY Med" gained 11% week to week in Adults 18-49 to deliver a new season high.

Friday
"What Would You Do?" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 3.7 million and 1.0/4 in AD18-49):
ABC's "What Would You Do?" was up week to week by 11% in Adults 18-49 (1.0/4 vs. 0.9/4) and held even in Total Viewers (3.7 million) and Adults 25-54 (1.3/4). "WWYD?" improved its slot over original programming on the same night last year by 16% in Viewers, by 25% in Adults 18-49 and by 8% in Adults 25-54 (versus 3.2 million, 0.8/3 and 1.2/4, respectively, for "Would You Fall For That?" premiere on 7/26/13).

"20/20" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.6 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49):
ABC's "20/20" was Friday's No. 1 program for the 3rd week running among Adults 25-54 (1.6/5). "20/20" was up over its year-ago telecast (3.7 million, 0.8/3 and 1.3/4, respectively, on 7/26/13) by enormous double-digit margins for the 3rd straight week in Total Viewers (+51%), Adults 18-49 (+38%) and Adults 25-54 (+23%).

Saturday
"Nightline Prime" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 2.7 million and 0.5/2 in AD18-49): ABC's "Nightline Prime" was up week to week by double digits in Adults 18-49 (+25% - 0.5/2 vs. 0.4/2) and Adults 25-54 (+17% - 0.7/2 vs. 0.6/2). In addition, "Nightline Prime" grew to its most-watched telecast in 3 months (2.7 million) - since 4/26/14.

Sunday
With "Wipeout," "Rising Star" and a repeat "Castle," ABC (3.5 million) ranked as the No. 2 most-watched net on Sunday night for the 4th week in a row.

"Wipeout" (7:00-9:00 p.m. - 3.4 million and 0.8/3 in AD18-49):
From 7:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's "Wipeout" took second in its 2-hour time period among Total Viewers (3.4 million).

"Rising Star" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 3.8 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):
Building on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Rising Star" earned 2nd place among the broadcasters in its hour with Total Viewers (3.8 million), Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W25-54), while ranking No. 1 with Kids 2-11. "Rising Star" improved its slot over original programming on the same night last year by 27% in viewers (3.0 million for "Whodunnit?" on 7/28/13).

The ABC unscripted series paced within 1-tenth of a rating point week to week in Adults 18-49, held even in Adults 18-34 and spiked 67% in Men 18-34.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.6 million and 0.6/2 in AD18-49):
At 10:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "Castle" once again tied an original of CBS' "Reckless" in Adults 18-49 (0.6/2).

WEEK NO. 44: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 NBC 1.2 No.1 CBS 5,350,000
No.2 CBS 1.0 No.2 NBC 5,170,000
No.2 FOX 1.0 No.3 ABC 3,920,000
No.4 ABC 0.9 No.4 FOX 2,800,000
No.5 CW 0.3 No.5 CW 780,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 07/21/14.

To post a comment, you must register and login.