ABC's "Private Practice" Finale Hits a 5-Month High in Adults 18-34

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

Opposite Fox with its final American Idol telecast on the night this season, ABC's posted its strongest Thursday since March among young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) - since 3/31/11.

Rising for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's season closer of Spring Wipeout attracted the show's biggest audience in 5 weeks - since 4/14/11.

· Despite going up against American Idol in the hour this year, Wipeout continued to improve its time slot for ABC, up by 8% in viewers and by 6% in Adults 18-49 over original drama programming on the same night a year ago (FlashForward on 5/20/10).

In its 7th season finale, ABC's Grey's Anatomy beat out its season-finale drama competition during the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49, beating Fox's Idol-fueled Bones by 6% and the opening hour of CBS' 2-hour The Mentalist by 42%. In addition, the ABC drama won its hour in Adults 25-54 and stood as Thursday's #1 scripted series with key Women (W18-49/W25-54).

· Grey's was up week to week by 6% in Adults 18-49 and by 11% in Adults 18-34.

In the 10pm hour, ABC's 4th season finale of Private Practice ran a solid #2 in viewers and young adults, while delivering the #1 position with Women 18-34 and Women 18-49. In fact it was the ABC drama's 21st consecutive original broadcast to stand as the #1 scripted TV show in the slot with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· Building its viewer count for the 3rd week running, ABC's Private Practice marked its most-watched telecast in 8 weeks and its top Adult 18-49 rating in 7 weeks - since 3/24/11 and 3/31/11. Surging by 25% week to week, Private Practice equaled a 5-month high with Adults 18-34 - 12/2/10.

Quick Take for Thursday, May 19, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Generates its Highest-Rated Thursday Since March Among Young Adults

ABC Spring "Wipeout" Finale Draws the Show's Biggest Audience in 5 Weeks

Defeating its Drama Competition on the Night, ABC's 7th Season Finale of "Grey's Anatomy" Builds Week to Week by 6% in Adults 18-49 and by 11% in Adults 18-34

Gaining Audience for the 3rd Week Running, ABC's Finale of "Private Practice" Posts its Most-Watched Telecast in 8 Weeks and Hits a 5-Month High in Adults 18-34

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

Opposite Fox with its final "American Idol" telecast on the night this season, ABC posted its strongest Thursday since March among young adults (Adults 18-34 = 2.1/7 and Adults 18-49 = 2.5/7) - since 3/31/11.

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

Rising for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's season closer of Spring "Wipeout" attracted the show's biggest audience (5.6 million) in 5 weeks - since 4/14/11.

· Despite going up against "American Idol" in the hour this year, "Wipeout" continued to improve its time slot for ABC, up by 8% in viewers (5.6 million vs. 5.2 million) and by 6% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.6/5) over original drama programming on the same night a year ago ("FlashForward" on 5/20/10).

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

In its 7th season finale, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" beat out its season-finale drama competition during the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (3.4/9), beating Fox's "Idol"-fueled "Bones" by 6% (3.2/8) and the opening hour of CBS' 2-hour "The Mentalist" by 42% (2.4/6). In addition, the ABC drama won its hour in Adults 25-54 (4.1/10) and stood as Thursday's No. 1 scripted series with key Women (W18-49/W25-54).

· "Grey's" was up week to week by 6% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/9 vs. 3.2/9) and by 11% in Adults 18-34 (3.0/9 vs. 2.7/8).

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

In the 10pm hour, ABC's 4th season finale of "Private Practice" ran a solid No. 2 in viewers (7.5 million) and young adults (2.5/7), while delivering the No. 1 position with Women 18-34 and Women 18-49. In fact it was the ABC drama's 21st consecutive original broadcast to stand as the No. 1 scripted TV show in the slot with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· Building its viewer count for the 3rd week running, ABC's "Private Practice" marked its most-watched telecast in 8 weeks and its top Adult 18-49 rating in 7 weeks - since 3/24/11 and 3/31/11. Surging by 25% week to week (2.0/6 vs. 1.6/5), "Private Practice" equaled a 5-month high with Adults 18-34 - 12/2/10.

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 41% currently, from 36% at the same point in 2010. 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), 5/19/11.