ABC is Thursday's Top Non-Sports Net in Young Adults

Some early points ahead of the regular press release.

Opposite the Olympics, ABC ranked #2 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.5/7-tie). ABC also finished as the top-rated non-sports net on the evening with Adults 18-34, outpacing CBS by 60% (2.4/7 vs. 1.5/5).

Surging from its lead-in against the Winter Games by 5.9 million viewers (10.2 million vs. 4.3 million) and by 236% in Adults 18-49 (3.7/9 vs. 1.1/3), Grey's Anatomy finished as the dominant #1 non-sports program in the 9 o'clock hour. Despite facing the Olympics this week, Grey's exhibited strong retention of its week-ago telecast with Adults 18-34 (95%), Women 18-34 (97%) and Men 18-34 (95%).

ABC's Private Practice stood as the definitive #1 non-sports program in Thursday's 10 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (2.8/7). In addition, for the 13th time in 14 original telecasts this season, Private Practice registered as the #1 TV series in its hour with Adults 18-34 (2.7/8).

Quick Take for Thursday, February 18, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Opposite the Olympics, ABC Finishes No. 2 on Thursday with Young Adults

Surging from its Lead-in by Huge Margins Against the Olympics, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" is the Dominant Non-Sports Program at 9 O'clock

"Private Practice" is the Top Non-Sports Show in the 10pm Hour in Young Adults, The No. 1 Series in its Slot for the 13th time in 14 Original Telecasts in Adults 18-34

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

Opposite the Olympics, ABC ranked No. 2 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.5/7-tie). ABC also finished as the top-rated non-sports network on the evening with Adults 18-34, outpacing CBS by 60% (2.4/7 vs. 1.5/5).

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

Surging from its lead-in against the Winter Games by 5.9 million viewers (10.2 million vs. 4.3 million) and by 236% in Adults 18-49 (3.7/9 vs. 1.1/3), "Grey's Anatomy" finished as the dominant series telecast in the 9 o'clock hour.

� Despite facing the Olympics this week, "Grey's" exhibited strong retention of its week-ago telecast with Adults18-34 (95%), Women 18-34 (97%) and Men 18-34 (95%).

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

ABC's "Private Practice" stood as the No. 1 non-sports program in Thursday's 10 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (2.8/7). In addition, for the 13th time in 14 original telecasts this season, "Private Practice" registered as the No. 1 TV series in its hour with Adults 18-34 (2.7/8).

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 36% currently, from 30% at the same point in 2009. 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: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 2/18/10.