ABC's "Scandal" Dominates at 10pm with its 2nd Highest Rating Ever

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

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+155% over the repeat Shark Tank) at 9pm, ABC's Grey's Anatomy took second place in its hour, beating Fox's Idol-driven Glee by 33% and NBC's 1-hour The Office by 40%. The ABC veteran drama won its time period in Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Grey's was the only show in the hour to gain young adult audience from start to finish. Grey's held strong retention of its week-ago telecast in viewers (98%) and young adults (93%).

Delivering its best lead-in retention ever out of an original Grey's (92%/96%), ABC's Scandal won the 10 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49 by 22% over CBS' Elementary (biggest margin ever) and tripled NBC's series debut of Do No Harm (+200%). Scandal was the #1 series in its slot for its 6th consecutive broadcast with young adults. Gaining over its last original in Adults 18-49 (+4%), Scandal marked its 2nd-highest rating ever. In fact over the course of its last 5 originals, Scandal has delivered the series' Top 5 highest-rated telecasts. In addition, the ABC drama hit new series highs with key Women (W18-34/W18-49). The ABC sophomore was up over an original Private Practice on the year-ago night by 23% in viewers and by 17% in young adults.

Quick Take for Thursday, January 31, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

More Than Doubling its Adult 18-49 Lead-in at 9pm, "Grey's Anatomy" Surges to Outdeliver Fox's "Idol"-Led "Glee" by 33% and NBC's 1-Hour "The Office" by 40%

Delivering its Best-Ever Lead-in Retention, ABC's "Scandal" Dominates its Drama Competition and Builds Over its Last Original to its 2nd-Highest Adult 18-49 Rating

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

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+155% over a repeat "Shark Tank") at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (2.8/7) earned second place in its hour, beating Fox's "Idol"-driven Glee by 33% (2.1/6) and NBC's 1-hour "The Office" by 40% (2.0/5). The ABC veteran drama won its time period in Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). "Grey's" was the only show in the hour to gain young adult audience from start to finish.

· Opposite greater competition, "Grey's" held strong retention of its week-ago telecast in viewers (98%) and young adults (93%).

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Delivering its best lead-in retention ever out of an original "Grey's" (92%/96%), ABC's "Scandal" won the 10 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49 (2.7/8) by 22% over CBS' "Elementary" (biggest margin ever - 2.2/6) and tripled NBC's series debut of "Do No Harm" (+200% - 0.9/3). "Scandal" was the No. 1 series in its slot for its 6th consecutive broadcast with young adults.

· Gaining over its last original in Adults 18-49 (+4%), "Scandal" marked its 2nd-highest rating ever. In fact over the course of its last 5 originals, "Scandal" has delivered the series' Top 5 highest-rated telecasts. In addition, the ABC drama hit new series highs with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· The ABC sophomore drama was up over an original "Private Practice" on the year-ago night by 23% in viewers (8.1 million vs. 6.6 million) and by 17% in young adults (2.7/8 vs. 2.3/6).

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 47% currently, from 43% at the same point in 2012. 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, 01/31/13.