ABC's "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" Debut Improves Its Hour/"Grey's" is #1 at 9p/"Scandal" is Thursday's #2 TV Show

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 7.8 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49): ABC earned second place on Thursday, beating Fox (6.9 million and 2.4/7) and NBC (3.4 million and 1.1/3). The Net was up 67% over the year-ago night in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 on 10/11/12).

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (8-9pm - 5.7 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49): During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's debut of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland topped NBC's comedies by wide margins (Parks and Recreation/Welcome to the Family = 2.9 million and 1.0/3) in Total Viewers (+97%) and Adults 18-49 (+70%). The Wonderland premiere gained young adult audience (+6%) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour. Given the strong TV playback gains for Once Upon a Time, the ABC drama spinoff will likely see a substantial increase in the L+3 and L+7 numbers. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland improved its time period over the year-ago night with Last Resort by 6% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.6/5).

Grey's Anatomy (9-10pm - 8.7 million and 2.8/8 in AD18-49): At 9pm, ABC's Grey's Anatomy ranked #1 in Adults 18-49, tying Glee's Cory Montieth tribute episode, while leading CBS' comedies in the hour by 17% in Adults 18-49 (The Crazy Ones/Two and a Half Men = 2.4/7) and more than doubling NBC's comedies (+155% over Sean Saves the World/The Michael J Fox Show = 1.1/3).

Scandal (10-11pm - 9.0 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49): Once again building on its Grey's Adult 18-49 lead-in (+11%), ABC's Scandal (3.1/9) towered over its 10pm drama competition, beating CBS Elementary by 63% (1.9/6) and NBC's Parenthood by 158% (1.2/3). It also ranked #1 in the slot with Total Viewers. On average in Adults 18-49, Scandal is up 70% over its first two telecasts last year (3.4/10 vs. 2.0/6) making the ABC drama the fastest growing returning series this season. For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's Scandal was Thursday's #1 drama and also the #2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49 (tie), behind only CBS' The Big Bang Theory.

Quick Take for Thursday, October 10, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Takes Second on Thursday with a 67% Increase Over the Year-Ago Night

ABC's "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" Dominates NBC's Comedies And Improves its Thursday's 8 O'clock Hour Year to Year with Young Adults

Against Increased Competition, "Grey's Anatomy" is No. 1 at 9pm in Adults 18-49

Building on its Lead-in at 10pm, "Scandal" Towers Over its Competition to Finish As Thursday's No. 1 Drama and the No. 2 TV Series of the Night in Adults 18-49

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.8 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49):

ABC earned second place on Thursday, beating Fox (6.9 million and 2.4/7) and NBC (3.4 million and 1.1/3). The Net was up 67% over the year-ago night in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 on 10/11/12).

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 5.7 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's debut of "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" topped NBC's comedies by wide margins ("Parks and Recreation"/"Welcome to the Family" = 2.9 million and 1.0/3) in Total Viewers (+97%) and Adults 18-49 (+70%), while ranking No. 2 against its broadcast competition with Men 18-49 (tie) and Kids 2-11 (tie). The "Wonderland" premiere gained young adult audience from its first half-hour to its second half-hour (+6% - 1.6/5 to 1.7/5). Given the strong TV playback gains for "Once Upon a Time," the ABC drama spinoff will likely see a substantial increase in the L+3 and L+7 numbers.

· "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" improved its time period over the year-ago night with "Last Resort" by 6% in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.6/5 on 10/11/12).

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.7 million and 2.8/8 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49, tying "Glee's" Cory Montieth tribute episode (2.8/8), while leading CBS' comedies in the hour by 17% in Adults 18-49 ("The Crazy Ones"/"Two and a Half Men" = 2.4/7) and more than doubling NBC's comedies (+155% over "Sean Saves the World"/"The Michael J Fox Show" = 1.1/3).

· Opposite increased competition from the "Glee" tribute episode, "Grey's" retained 91% in Total Viewers and 90% in Adults 18-49 week to week.

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.0 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49):

Once again building on its "Grey's" Adult 18-49 lead-in (+11%), ABC's "Scandal" (3.1/9) towered over its 10:00 p.m. drama competition, beating CBS "Elementary" by 63% (1.9/6) and NBC's "Parenthood" by 158% (1.2/3). It also ranked No. 1 in the hour with Total Viewers. For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Scandal" was Thursday's No. 1 drama and also the No. 2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49 (tie), behind only CBS' "The Big Bang Theory."

· On average in Adults 18-49, "Scandal" is up 70% over its first two telecasts last year (3.4/10 vs. 2.0/6) making the ABC drama the fastest growing returning series 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 48% currently, from 45% 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, 10/10/13.