‘High Potential’ Returns After Midseason Break To Best 7-Day Audience; ‘Will Trent’ & ‘The Rookie’ Deliver Strong Premieres For ABC

Los Angeles, CA — ABC is starting the year on a high note, with three of its most popular dramas delivering record-breaking or near-record numbers following their midseason returns. High Potential, Will Trent, and The Rookie all posted impressive audiences across broadcast and streaming platforms, giving the network a welcome boost at a time when the primetime schedule is still ramping back up.

Will Trent Sets a New Record

The Season 3 premiere of Will Trent proved to be a milestone for the network’s crime drama. The episode opened with 5.9 million viewers tuning in live on the same day. But the bigger story emerged after a week of delayed viewing across platforms.

According to Disney, the episode jumped to 9.75 million total viewers after seven days, making it the show’s most-watched telecast to date. The strong showing reflects not only the loyalty of the drama’s audience but also its increasing popularity among viewers who stream after the initial airing.

The record-setting premiere is expected to bolster ABC’s midseason momentum, signaling that Will Trent has firmly established itself as a cornerstone in the network’s lineup.

The Rookie Gains Ground

Meanwhile, veteran drama The Rookie also delivered strong results with its Season 7 debut. The episode pulled in a live same-day audience of 3.4 million viewers, but after seven days of multi-platform viewing, that figure skyrocketed to 9.16 million — a 170% increase.

While the total is slightly lower year-over-year compared to last season’s premiere, Disney emphasized that the series continues to perform exceptionally well among adults 18–49, a key advertising demographic. The strong numbers also show The Rookie’s ability to draw in both live audiences and delayed streamers, keeping it one of ABC’s most consistent performers.

“The numbers show that fans are sticking with the show, even as television viewing habits evolve,” said one Disney spokesperson. “Its appeal across demographics continues to drive its success.”

High Potential Returns Stronger Than Ever

Perhaps the most surprising surge came from High Potential. Returning after a midseason break, the show captured its best-ever seven-day audience. While exact figures have not been publicly released, Disney confirmed that the series outperformed its prior season averages and hit an all-time high in delayed viewing.

For a relatively new entry in ABC’s slate, the growth of High Potential is particularly encouraging. The show has gradually built a loyal audience since its launch, and its return episode benefitted from a quieter television landscape in early January, where fewer competing programs were on air.

The boost suggests that word of mouth and strong streaming performance are paying off for the crime procedural, which has drawn praise for its character-driven storytelling.

Streaming Lifts ABC’s Numbers

Both Will Trent and The Rookie also set records on streaming, according to Disney. The surge highlights the shifting patterns of television audiences, where same-day ratings only tell part of the story. Increasingly, networks rely on seven-day and multi-platform metrics to capture the full scope of viewership.

For ABC, the numbers reinforce the network’s strategy of pairing traditional broadcast with strong streaming availability on platforms like Hulu.

“The lines between broadcast and streaming are blurring,” noted media analyst Carla Mendoza. “For a network like ABC, it’s critical that shows not only deliver on live TV but also grow in the days after. These numbers prove the model is working.”

A Quiet Advantage

Industry experts also point out that ABC’s mid-January premieres benefited from the relative calm of the broadcast schedule. With many shows yet to return from winter hiatus, ABC’s returning dramas faced less competition for viewers’ attention.

“When the schedule is light, the shows that do air often see a lift,” explained TV critic Jordan Miller. “Audiences are eager for fresh content, and if you can provide it in that window, you have a built-in advantage.”

Looking Ahead

ABC has been steadily rolling out its primetime lineup since the turn of the year. Alongside High Potential, the network recently brought back the Emmy-winning comedy Abbott Elementary and launched its new drama Shifting Gears. Next up is The Bachelor, set to premiere January 27, which typically delivers one of ABC’s most reliable reality TV audiences.

With Will Trent, The Rookie, and High Potential already posting strong results, ABC appears well-positioned for the remainder of the season. Whether these shows can sustain momentum as the schedule fills out will be closely watched by both fans and advertisers.

For now, though, ABC has reason to celebrate. Three of its cornerstone dramas are not just surviving but thriving — proof that even in a fragmented media landscape, audiences still respond to compelling characters, engaging stories, and the promise of appointment television.