ABC is #1 Non-Sports Net for 2nd Straight Night Against World Series

Top line points for ABC ahead of the regular ratings release.

For the 2nd night in a row against Fox's 2009 World Series coverage (Game 2: NY Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies), ABC stood as the #1 non-sports network among Adults 18-49 (3.8/10), beating CBS by 9% (3.5/9) and NBC by 58% (2.4/6).

� Despite facing the World Series this year and no game on the year-ago night (10/30/08), ABC was up year to year on the opening night of the November Sweep by 6% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/10 vs. 3.6/10) and by 13% in Adults 18-34 (3.6/10 vs. 3.2/9). In fact ABC has been up over the year-ago Thursday for 3 weeks in a row in Adults 18-49 and for 5 straight weeks in Adults 18-34.

� ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" registered as Thursday's #1 series telecast in Adults 18-49 for the 6th straight week and defeated its drama competition in the 9 o'clock hour (CBS' "CSI") by 50% (5.1/12 vs. 3.4/8).

Quick Take for Thursday, October 29, 2009 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

For the 2nd Straight Night, ABC is TV's No. 1 Non-Sports Net in Adults 18-49

Despite Airing Opposite the World Series this Year, ABC is Up on the Opening Night of the November Sweep, While CBS and NBC Decline

"FlashForward" is the No. 1 Series at 8pm for the 6th Straight Week in Adults 18-34 and Grows its Audience Week-to-Week with Women 18-34

Beating its Non-Sports Competition at 9pm in Adults 18-49, "Grey's Anatomy" Stands as Thursday's No. 1 TV Series in Adults 18-49 for the 5th Week Running

The No. 1 TV Series in the 10pm Hour for the 5th Consecutive Thursday in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Private Practice" Also Wins its Slot with Key Women

Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

For the 2nd night in a row against Fox's 2009 World Series coverage (Game 2: NY Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies), ABC stood as the No. 1 non-sports network among Adults 18-49 (3.8/10), beating CBS by 9% (3.5/9) and NBC by 58% (2.4/6). ABC won the night over the World Series among Women 18-34 (5.3/14) and Women 18-49 (5.4/13).

� Despite facing the World Series this year and no game on the year-ago night (10/30/08), ABC was up year to year on the opening night of the November Sweep by 6% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/10 vs. 3.6/10) and by 13% in Adults 18-34 (3.6/10 vs. 3.2/9). NBC and CBS were both down year-to-year. In fact ABC has been up over the year-ago Thursday for 3 weeks in a row with Adults 18-49 and for 5 straight weeks in Adults 18-34.

"FlashForward" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

ABC freshman "FlashForward" finished a solid second against its non-sports competition in the 8 o'clock hour to CBS' veteran "Survivor" in Total Viewers (9.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/8), leading NBC's comedies ("Community"/"Parks and Recreation") by 3.8 million viewers and by 29% in young adults (5.2 million & 2.1/6). The top non-sports show in its hour among Adults 18-34 (2.4/7), the freshman ABC drama qualified as the No. 1 regular series telecast in its hour for the 6th week in a row.

� Opposite the World Series, ABC's "FlashForward" grew its Women 18-34 audience week to week (3.0/9 vs. 2.9/9).

� The top gainer for any new series this season in DVR playback, "FlashForward" surges over the first-reported numbers by 1.9 million viewers and by 9-tenths of an Adult 18-49 rating point (+35%) from the Live + Same Day Numbers to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (5.1/12) registered as Thursday's No. 1 series telecast in Adults 18-49 for the 6th straight week. Leading its series competition in the 9 o'clock hour by wide margins, "Grey's" defeated CBS' "CSI" by 50% (5.1/12 vs. 3.4/8) and NBC's comedy combo "The Office"/"30 Rock" by 42% (3.6/9).

� TV's most-popular show in DVR playback, "Grey's Anatomy" jumps over the first-reported numbers by 3.0 million viewers and by an additional 1.5 Adult 18-49 rating points (+24%) from the Live + Same Day Numbers to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.

"Private Practice" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

"Private Practice" qualified as the No. 1 non-sports show in the 10 o'clock hour for the 5th week running among Adults 18-34 (3.5/10) and Adults 18-49 (3.6/9). Outperforming the World Series, the ABC drama won its hour for the 5th consecutive week in key Women: W18-34 (5.4/15) and W18-49 (5.4/13).

� Like its lead-in, "Private Practice" sees impressive DVR gains from the first-reported numbers, shooting up by 1.8 million viewers and by 1.0 Adult 18-49 rating points (+24%) from the Live + Same Day Numbers to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 33% currently, from 28% at the same point in 2008. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 10/29/09.