ABC's "Grey's" Builds Against "Idol"/"Scandal" Continues to Win at 10pm

Up against Idol and CBS' top-rated comedies (The Big Bang Theory/Two and a Half Men), ABC's Zero Hour drew 2.2 million more viewers than NBC's comedies (Community/Parks and Recreation). Zero Hour held 100% of its week-ago series debut numbers in both Adults 18-34 and Men 18-34.

Shooting up from its lead-in at 9pm (+173%) against the second hour of Idol, ABC's Grey's Anatomy moved up to rank as the top scripted show in its slot among Adults 18-49 and stood as Thursday's #1 drama. During the 9 o'clock hour, Grey's outdelivered CBS' Person of Interest by 3% and NBC's comedies by 150% (Parks and Recreation/1600 Penn). Although facing Idol in the hour this week, Grey's was up by 7% in Adults 18-49 over the prior week.

ABC's Scandal led the 10pm hour in Adults 18-49 by 17% over CBS' Elementary to finish as the #1 series in its slot for its 9th telecast in a row. In fact over its last eight original broadcasts, Scandal has delivered the series' Top 8 highest-rated airings in Adults 18-49 and 7 of its most-watched overall. For its 6th straight telecast, the ABC sophomore drama improved its hour year to year in Total Viewers (+21%) and Adults 18-49 (+29%). Scandal is consistently one of the most active shows on Twitter each Thursday, and so far this season has generated nearly 2.3 million tweets.

Quick Take for Thursday, February 21, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "Zero Hour" Retains 100% of its Week-Ago Debut with Adults 18-34

Opposite "Idol," "Grey's" is Up 7% Week to Week and Finishes as Thursday's No. 1 Drama Among Adults 18-49

Leading Thursday's 10 O'clock Hour by 17% in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Scandal" is the No. 1 Series in its Slot for its 9th Consecutive Airing

"Zero Hour" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Up against "Idol" and CBS' top-rated comedies ("The Big Bang Theory"/"Two and a Half Men"), ABC's "Zero Hour" (5.3 million) drew 2.2 million more viewers than NBC's comedies ("Community"/"Parks and Recreation" = 3.1 million).

· "Zero Hour" held 100% of its week-ago series debut numbers in both Adults 18-34 and Men 18-34.

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

Shooting up from its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+173%) against the second hour of "Idol," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" moved up to rank as the top scripted show in its slot among Adults 18-49 and stood as Thursday's No. 1 drama. During the 9 o'clock hour, "Grey's" (3.0/8) outdelivered CBS' "Person of Interest" by 3% (2.9/8) and NBC's comedies by 150% ("Parks and Recreation"/"1600 Penn" = 1.2/3).

· Although facing "Idol" in the hour this week, "Grey's" was up by 7% in Adults 18-49 over the prior week.

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

ABC's "Scandal" led the 10:00 p.m. hour in Adults 18-49 by 17% over CBS' "Elementary" (2.7/7 vs. 2.3/6) to finish as the No. 1 series in its slot for its 9th telecast in a row. In its last eight original broadcasts, "Scandal" has earned the series' Top 8 highest-rated airings in Adults 18-49 and 7 of its most-watched overall.

· For its 6th straight telecast, the ABC sophomore drama improved its hour year to year in Total Viewers (+21% - 7.6 million vs. 6.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+29% - 2.7/7 vs. 2.1/6).

· Consistently one of the most active shows on Twitter each Thursday, "Scandal" has generated 2.287 million tweets this season. Spiking 13% week to week (221,747 vs. 196,902), the hit ABC drama captured its 3rd-highest number of tweets for any airing this season.

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, 02/21/13. Social Guide is based on the cume of social activity during a show's broadcast, 9/27/12-2/21/13.