ABC‘s High Potential ended its breakout first season on a high note. The Feb. 11 season finale of the light procedural starring Kaitlin Olson, which already has been renewed for Season 2, hit series highs in total viewers (13.2 million – tied) and adults 18-49 (2.59 rating) after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms as well as a series high on streaming, becoming ABC’s most watched drama episode ever, based on 7-day views on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
On linear, the High Potential Season 1 finale topped Tuesday night across broadcast and cable for the second straight week among total viewers (8.7 million) and adults 18-49 (0.76 rating), logging the largest viewer advantage over CBS’ flagship drama FBI (+9% vs. 8.0 million) for any Tuesday scripted series in over six years – since NBC’s This Is Us did it on 1/22/19.
The finale caps a banner first season for High Potential, created by Drew Goddard based on a French format. It stands as ABC’s most-watched new series based on multi-platform viewing over seven days (11.5 million) in seven years – since the 2017-2018 season with The Good Doctor — and ranks as TV’s No. 1 drama among Adults 18-49 based on Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings. To date, the High Potential pilot episode has amassed nearly 32 million Total Viewers in multi-platform viewing.
High Potential has been part of a formidable light crime/police drama ABC Tuesday lineup where it was most recently flanked by Will Trent at 8 PM, now in its third season, and veteran The Rookie at 10 PM, in Season 7. Both shows have been major streaming draws and made a strong case for renewal by setting new benchmarks with their Feb. 11 episodes which both hit all-time highs for episode views on streaming based on the first seven days on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
Additionally, Will Trent, starring Ramon Rodriguez, scored its best performance in three weeks in total viewers (9.2 million) and its best performance in adults 18-49 (1.20 rating) in four weeks after 7 days of multi-platform viewing.
The Rookie, starring Nathan Fillion, also earned its best audience in total viewers in three weeks (8.8 million). Airing behind the High Potential finale on linear, it also scored its best delivery among adults 18-49 (1.99 rating) in nearly five years – since 3/15/20.
So far, ABC’s High Potential and flagship comedy Abbott Elementary have received early renewals for next season. Will Trent, The Rookie as well long-running dramas Grey’s Anatomy and 9-1-1 and breakout freshman comedy Shifting Gears are all well positioned to join them on the schedule for 2025-26.
