• by Wayne Friedman , December 23, 2013

The time-shifting trend continues to grow. The largest percentage gains over initial airings belong to cable network shows, with top series more than doubling their live performances.

For example, the top two time-shifted shows -- in terms of percentage gains -- this season have been FX’s “The Bridge” ( \a 164.3% gain from time-shifted viewing) and USA Network’s “Covert Affairs” (164%). These results tally episodes from Dec. 31, 2012 through Nov. 24, 2013.

The most recent live-plus-same-day ratings for an episode of these shows are 1.4 million viewers for The Bridge” and 1.9 million viewers for “Covert Affairs.” “The Bridge” is about detectives tracking a serial killer on both sides of the American-Mexican border; “Covert Affairs” focuses on a young CIA woman agent.

FX shows registered five of the top 10 shows in this category. USA Network had three and AMC produced two.

FX’s “Justified” is next -- in third place with a 144.8% gain. Its most recent live-plus-same-day ratings for an episode were at 2.25 million viewers. AMC’s “Mad Men” is next with a 143.3% increase from time-shifting (2.7 million viewers for its live-plus same-day most recent episode) and FX’s “The Americans” is also at 143.3% (1.9 million viewers).

Next comes USA’s “Suits” at 136.1% (3.2 million live-plus-same-day viewers for its most recent episode); FX’s “American Horror Story” at 131.7% (3.9 million viewers); FX’s “Sons of Anarchy” with 129.2% (5.2 million viewers); USA’s “Graceland” at 126.5% (2.1 million viewers); and AMC’s “Breaking Bad” with 117.8% (10.3 million viewers) .