By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

TNA Impact on Thursday, February 23 scored a 1.19 rating off a first hour 1.17 rating and second hour 1.22 rating. The second hour rating was the highest of the year and highest since November 2011.

Impact peaked at the top of the second hour, as it usually does, with a 1.26 rating for this week's Knockouts match of Gail Kim vs. ODB. The low point was a 1.10 rating in the second quarter-hour.

Impact finished strong with a 1.21 rating in the eighth quarter-hour, the highest-rated Q8 since the Impact after Bound for Glory in October (18 weeks).

First Hour Break Down

Q1: Impact opened with a 1.15 rating for Robert Roode's show-opening promo, one commercial, and the first-half of the TNA Tag Title match. (down 2.3% vs. 2011-Q1 average)

Q2: Impact hit its low point with a 1.10 rating for the second-half of the Tag Title match and two full commercial breaks, which dragged down the rating, followed by the first-half of Brandon Jacobs's in-ring promo. (down 4.8% vs. 2011-Q2 average)

Q3: Impact bounced back with a 1.18 rating for the second-half of Ray-Jacobs, Alex Shelley vs. Zema Ion in X Division action, and one full commercial break. (up 1.2% vs. 2011-Q3 average)

Q4: Impact scored its highest rating of the hour with a 1.24 rating for videos/backstage segments and the first-half of the Knockouts match between Gail and ODB. There was one commercial, which helped boost the Q4 rating, when TNA typically has two commercials in Q4. It was the highest-rated Q4 segment since November. (up 10.3% vs. 2011-Q4 average)

Second Hour Break Down

Q5: Impact built to a show-high 1.26 rating for the second-half of Gail vs. ODB, one commercial break, and a Jesse Sorensen health update video. This was the highest-rated Q5 of the year. (up 2.3% vs. 2011-Q5 average)

Q6: Impact dropped slightly to a 1.22 rating for A.J. Styles vs. Robbie E. in a TV Title match, plus one commercial break. This was tied for the highest-rated Q6 of the year. (up 5.2% vs. 2011-Q6 average)

Q7: Impact dropped to a second-hour-low 1.17 rating for the first-half of the TV main event (Roode & Angle vs. Storm & Hardy with Brandon Jacobs), and one commercial break. This was tied for the highest-rated Q7 of the year. (up 2.6% vs. 2011-Q7 average)

Q8: Impact increased to a 1.21 rating for the second-half of the main event, one commercial, and Crazy Sting confronting Roode to set up their mach at Victory Road next month. (up 2.8% vs. 2011-Q8 average)

Caldwell's Analysis: This was easily Impact's most consistent show of 2012 in terms of ratings staying relatively strong throughout the show. Granted, TNA started the year weak with lower-than-average ratings and poor stretches during the second hour, so this week's performance looks more impressive by comparison. Whether they can maintain it is always the question with TNA.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

We suggest these recent related articles...

TV RATINGS: TNA Impact & ROH TV viewership - Week 19 on Dest. America - Impact surges post-BFG, ROH draws big audience

TV WRESTLING VIEWERSHIP - Week of Sept. 28: Full Break Down of last week's Pro Wrestling TV with DVR viewing

TNA NEWS: TNA announces TV tapings on January U.K. Tour