ABC's ROOKIE BLUE Opens at No. 1 in its Slot with Biggest Audience in Over a Year

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.1 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):

With "Black Box" in its new 8:00-9:00 p.m. time slot and the season premiere of "Rookie Blue" from 9:00-11:00 p.m., ABC finished in a near tie as the most-watched network on Thursday night (5.1 million vs. 5.2 million for CBS), leading FOX by 34% (3.8 million) and NBC by 55% (3.3 million).

ABC marked its most-watched non-sports summer Thursday since May 2013 - since 5/30/13.

"Black Box" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 4.0 million and 0.7/3 in AD18-49):

On its first telecast in 3 weeks and moving into its new 8:00 p.m. time period, ABC's "Black Box" returned up in Total Viewers (+5% - 4.0 million vs. 3.8 million) and paced within 1-tenth in Adults 18-49 (0.7/3 vs. 0.8/2).

"Rookie Blue" (9:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.7 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49):

Building sharply on its lead-in at 9pm (+43%), ABC's "Rookie Blue" opened its 5th season at No. 1 in its 2-hour slot with Total Viewers (5.7 million), topping each half-hour. The ABC drama also ranked No. 1 in its time period among Adults 25-54 (1.4/4-tie). Head to head from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Rookie Blue" beat out its drama competition in the hour, leading Fox's "Gang Related" by 3.1 million viewers (5.7 million vs. 2.6 million) and 11% in Adults 18-49 (1.0/3 vs. 0.9/3).

"Rookie Blue" was up from its September season finale by 1 million viewers and held steady in Adults 18-49 (4.7 million and 1.0/3 on 9/12/13).In fact, the show drew its biggest audience in more than 1 year, outdrawing all but the first two telecasts of its fourth season - since 5/30/13.

Please Note: Last year "Rookie Blue" premiered out of the higher rated series debut of "Motive," at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday in the end of May (on 5/23/13).

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 06/19/14.