ABC's "Grey's" Dominates at 9pm to Stand as Thursday's #1 Drama in Adults 18-49

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

ABC ranked a strong #2 on Thursday night among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while winning the #1 position on the night with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). Among Adults 18-49, ABC outdelivered original schedules with premieres on Fox by 40% (including the series debut of The Finder) and NBC by 56% (including the season premiere of 30 Rock and the time-period premieres of Up All Night and The Firm).

During the 8 o'clock hour opposite CBS' top-rated The Big Bang Theory and the series debut of Rob and Fox's Bones, ABC's Winter Wipeout outdrew NBC's comedies (30 Rock/Parks and Recreation) by 2.8 million viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the broad-skewing unscripted series finished #2 in the time period with key Men (M18-49/M25-54), as well as making ABC the #2 broadcaster in the hour with Teens 12-17 and #1 with Kids 2-11.

· Despite facing stiff competition, Wipeout's audience surged by 11% viewers and by 26% in young adults from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

Winning the 9 o'clock hour by wide margins in Adults 18-49, ABC's Grey's Anatomy beat out CBS' Person of Interest by 19%, NBC's comedies (The Office/Up All Night) by 58% and Fox's series debut of The Finder by 124%.

· ABC's Grey's Anatomy stood as Thursday's #1 drama in the key young adult sales demo for its 10th consecutive original telecast this season.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Private Practice topped NBC's time-period premiere of The Firm by 2.5 million viewers and more than doubled the NBC drama's Adult 18-49 number (+140%).

· ABC's Private Practice qualified as the #1 drama in Thursday's 10 o'clock hour for the 10th straight first-run airing this season with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

Quick Take for Thursday, January 12, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is a Strong No. 2 on Thursday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, While Winning the Evening Among Adults 18-34 and Key Women Demographics

From 8-9pm, ABC�s "Wipeout" Defeats NBC�s Season Premiere of "30 Rock" And "Parks and Recreation" by Wide Margins in Viewers and Young Adults

Thursday�s No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49, ABC�s "Grey�s" Dominates the 9pm Hour

In the 10pm Hour, ABC�s "Private Practice" More than Doubles the Slot Premiere Of NBC�s "The Firm" in Adults 18-49, and Ranks as the No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-34

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

ABC ranked a strong No. 2 on Thursday night among Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.8/7), while winning the No. 1 position on the night with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). Among Adults 18-49, ABC (2.8/7) outdelivered original schedules with premieres on Fox by 40% (2.0/5 - including the series debut of "The Finder") and NBC by 56% (1.8/5 - including the season premiere of "30 Rock" and the time-period premieres of "Up All Night" and "The Firm").

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

During the 8 o�clock hour opposite CBS� top-rated "The Big Bang Theory" and the series debut of "Rob" and Fox�s "Bones," ABC�s "Winter Wipeout" outdrew NBC�s comedies ("30 Rock"/"Parks and Recreation") by 2.8 million viewers (7.1 million vs. 4.3 million) and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 1.8/5). In addition, the broad-skewing unscripted series finished No. 2 in the time period with key Men (M18-49/M25-54), as well as making ABC the No. 2 broadcaster in the hour with Teens 12-17 and No. 1 with Kids 2-11. In fact it was the night�s highest-rated broadcast program with Kids 2-11.

· Despite facing stiff competition, "Wipeout�s" audience surged by 7% in viewers (6.9 million to 7.4 million) and by 26% in young adults (1.9/5 to 2.4/6) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

"Grey�s Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Winning the 9 o�clock hour by wide margins in Adults 18-49, ABC�s "Grey�s Anatomy" (3.8/9) beat out CBS� "Person of Interest" by 19% (3.2/8), NBC�s comedies ("The Office"/"Up All Night") by 58% (2.4/6) and Fox�s series debut of "The Finder" by 124% (1.7/4).

· ABC�s "Grey�s Anatomy" stood as Thursday�s No. 1 drama in the key young adult sales demo for its 10th consecutive original telecast this season.

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

During the 10 o�clock hour, ABC�s "Private Practice" topped NBC�s time-period premiere of "The Firm" by 2.5 million viewers (6.7 million vs. 4.2 million) and more than doubled the NBC drama�s Adult 18-49 number (+140% - 2.4/6 vs. 1.0/3).

· ABC�s "Private Practice" qualified as the No. 1 drama in Thursday�s 10 o�clock hour for the 10th straight first-run airing this season with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

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 43% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2011. 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), 01/12/12.