ABC’s ‘High Potential’ Hits Record Viewership After Midseason Return

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — ABC‘s Tuesday night drama lineup has surged in viewership following its midseason return, with the freshman series ‘High Potential‘ leading the charge. The show, which premiered in September 2024, has more than doubled its live + same-day audience, reaching 12.9 million viewers after seven days of multi-platform viewing, according to Disney.

‘High Potential’ initially drew 5.7 million live + same-day viewers, placing it second in ABC’s Tuesday night lineup. However, its seven-day performance marks a 130% increase, making it the network’s most-watched drama in over four years. The show’s success highlights the growing trend of delayed and multi-platform viewing.

The Season 3 premiere of ‘Will Trent‘ also saw significant gains, with its live + same-day audience of 5.9 million viewers growing to 9.75 million after seven days. This marks the show’s most-watched episode to date. Similarly, ‘The Rookie‘ saw a 170% increase in viewership, jumping from 3.4 million live + same-day viewers to 9.16 million after seven days.

Disney reported that both ‘Will Trent’ and ‘The Rookie’ set streaming audience records for their respective episodes. The strong performance of ABC’s Tuesday night lineup comes as the broadcast season gradually resumes after the midseason break, with fewer competing shows airing during this period.

ABC also reintroduced ‘Abbott Elementary‘ and launched the new series ‘Shifting Gears‘ last week. The network’s next major primetime premiere, ‘The Bachelor,’ is scheduled for January 27.

According to Nielsen Media Research, ABC dominated Tuesday night’s ratings, with ‘High Potential’ leading in total viewers (5.786 million) and adults 18-49 (0.49 rating). ‘Will Trent’ followed closely with 5.696 million viewers, while ‘The Rookie’ rounded out the lineup with 3.449 million viewers.

The network’s success reflects a broader shift in viewer habits, as audiences increasingly consume content across multiple platforms and timeframes. Disney’s data underscores the importance of delayed viewing metrics in evaluating a show’s overall performance.