Thursday's #1 Drama, ABC's "Grey's" Hits a 5-Week High in Adults 18-49

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

During the 8 o'clock hour against CBS' top-rated The Big Bang Theory and Rob, as well as American Idol, ABC's Winter Wipeout outdrew NBC's 1-hour 30 Rock by 1.3 million viewers. Wipeout's audience surged by double digits from its first half-hour to its second half-hour in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+31%).

More than doubling its lead-in (+160%) to dominate the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, ABC's Grey's Anatomy beat out CBS' Person of Interest by 18%, Fox's Idol-driven The Finder by 70% and NBC's comedies (The Office/Up All Night) by 86%. ABC's Grey's Anatomy finished as Thursday's #1 drama in the key young adult sales demographic for its 13th consecutive first-run airing this season.

· Building for its 2nd straight telecast in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%), Grey's Anatomy drew its biggest audience in 4 weeks and its top young adult number in 5 weeks - since 1/12/12 and 1/5/12, respectively.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Private Practice stood as the #1 drama for its 13th consecutive first-run broadcast this season in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, leading CBS' The Mentalist by 15% and 86%, respectively.

· In viewers and young adults, ABC's Private Practice equaled its strongest performance since the beginning of January - since 1/5/12.

Quick Take for Thursday, February 9, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Building its Audience from 8-9pm Against CBS' Comedies and "Idol," ABC's "Winter Wipeout" Outdraws NBC's 1-Hour "30 Rock" by 1.3 Million Viewers

Up for the 2nd Straight Telecast to Hit a 5-Week High, ABC's "Grey's" Dominates its Slot to Stand as Thursday's No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49 for its 13th Straight Original

ABC's "Private Practice" Equals its Best Results Since the Beginning of January

"Winter Wipeout" (8:00-9:00 p.m.) During the 8 o'clock hour against CBS' top-rated "The Big Bang Theory" and "Rob," as well as "American Idol," ABC's "Winter Wipeout" outdrew NBC's 1-hour "30 Rock" by 1.3 million viewers (5.2 million vs. 3.9 million).

· "Wipeout's" audience surged by double digits from its first half-hour to its second half-hour in Total Viewers (+10% - 5.0 million to 5.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+31% - 1.3/4 to 1.7/5).

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

More than doubling its lead-in (+160%) to dominate the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (3.9/10) beat out CBS' "Person of Interest" by 18% (3.3/8), Fox's "Idol"-driven "The Finder" by 70% (2.3/6) and NBC's comedies ("The Office"/"Up All Night') by 86% (2.1/5). ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" finished as Thursday's No. 1 drama in the key young adult sales demographic for its 13th consecutive first-run airing this season.

· Building for its 2nd straight telecast in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%), "Grey's Anatomy" drew its biggest audience in 4 weeks and its top young adult number in 5 weeks - since 1/12/12 and 1/5/12, respectively.

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Private Practice" stood as the No. 1 drama for its 13th consecutive first-run broadcast this season in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, beating CBS' "The Mentalist" by 15% (1.5/5 vs. 1.3/4) and 86% (2.6/7 vs. 1.4/4), respectively.

· In Total Viewers (6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.3/6), ABC's "Private Practice" equaled its strongest performance since the beginning of January - since 1/5/12.

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 39% 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 Program Ratings), 02/09/12.