ABC Posts its Most-Watched Thursday in 6 Weeks

Some early info on ABC's Thursday, ahead of the regular press release.

ABC earned second place on Thursday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while dominating the night for the 2nd straight week with Women 18-34, by 32% over its nearest competition (NBC). Growing on the evening for the 3rd straight week, ABC generated its largest Thursday audience in 6 weeks - since 3/25/10.

Surging 185% over its lead-in at 9pm, ABC's self-starter Grey's Anatomy won its hour by strong margins among Adults 18-49. During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's Grey's outdelivered CBS' CSI by 19%, NBC's comedies by 19% (The Office/30 Rock) and Fox's Fringe by 68%. Grey's tallied its 19th time in 20 original broadcasts this season to qualify as Thursday's #1 scripted series with Adults 18-49. Up over the prior week, Grey's generated its most-watched telecast since March - since 3/25/10.

ABC's Private Practice placed a solid second to CBS' The Mentalist in 10 o'clock hour among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, topping NBC's Marriage Ref by 3.3 million viewers and by 27%, respectively. The ABC sophomore drama dominated the hour with Adults 18-34, beating The Mentalist by 39% and Marriage Ref by 32%. It was the 20th straight original telecast this season for Private Practice to stand as the #1 scripted program in the hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). Increasing its overall audience week to week, Private Practice drew its biggest audience in 6 weeks - since 3/25/10.

Quick Take for Thursday, May 6, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Growing its Audience for the 3rd Straight Week, ABC Marks its Most-Watched Thursday in 6 Weeks

"Grey's" Leads the 9pm Hour Among Adults 18-49, Generating its Most-Watched Telecast Since March

With its Biggest Overall Audience in 6 Weeks, "Private Practice" Dominates In Adults 18-34, as the Hour's No. 1 Scripted Show for its 20th Straight Original

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

ABC took second place on Thursday in Total Viewers (7.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.6/8), while dominating the night for the 2nd straight week with Women 18-34 by 32% over its nearest competition (3.3/11 vs. 2.5/8 - NBC).

· Growing on the night for the 3rd straight week, ABC generated its largest Thursday audience in 6 weeks � since 3/25/10.

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

Surging 185% over its lead-in at 9:00p.m., self-starter "Grey's Anatomy" won its hour by strong margins among Adults 18-49. During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Grey's" (3.7/11) outdelivered CBS' "CSI" by 19% (3.1/9), NBC's comedies by 19% ("The Office"/"30 Rock" = 3.1/9) and Fox's "Fringe" by 68% (2.2/6). Grey's tallied its 19th time in 20 original broadcasts this season to qualify as Thursday's No. 1 scripted series with Adults 18-49.

· Up over the prior week, "Grey's" generated its most-watched telecast (10.7 million) since March � since 3/25/10.

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

ABC's Private Practice placed a solid second to CBS' "The Mentalist" at 10 o'clock among Total Viewers (8.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.8/8), topping NBC's "Marriage Ref" (5.0 million and 2.2/6) by 3.3 million viewers and by 27% in young adults, respectively. The ABC drama dominated the hour with Adults 18-34 (2.5/8), beating "The Mentalist" by 39% (1.8/6) and "Marriage Ref" by 32% (1.9/6). It was the 20th straight original telecast this season for "Private Practice" to stand as the No. 1 scripted program in the hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· Increasing its overall audience week to week, "Private Practice" drew its biggest audience in 6 weeks � since 3/25/10.

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 31% 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), 5/6/10.