ABC's New Thursday Line-up Finishes #2 - "The Taste" Beats NBC's Comedy Premiere Block and "The Assets" Nearly Ties "Parenthood" at 10pm

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 4.4 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49): Featuring the season premiere of The Taste and the first part of The Assets mini-series (ABC's new 8-week Thursday line-up until the mid-season return of its dramas in February), the Net took second place on Thursday, outdrawing NBC's premiere line-up by 33% in Total Viewers (4.4 million vs. 3.3 million) and tying in Adults 18-49 (1.1/3).

The Taste (8-10pm - 4.7 million and 1.2/3 in AD18-49): Taking second place from 8-10pm to CBS, ABC's Season 2 premiere of The Taste (4.7 million and 1.2/3) beat out NBC's 2-hour comedy premiere block by strong margins (Community/Community/Sean Saves the World/Michael J Fox Show = 3.0 million and 1.0/3), leading by 57% in Total Viewers and by 20% in Adults 18-49. The ABC unscripted series built 8% in Adults 18-49 from its first hour to it second hour.

· The Taste was up 34% over its Season 1 finale in Total Viewers and held steady Adults 18-49 (3.5 million and 1.2/3 on 3/12/13), outdrawing the final 3 telecasts of its first season - best since 2/19/13. Please note: The Taste debuted last year in late-January with higher overall viewing levels on Tuesday night against repeat competition on CBS.

The Assets (10-11pm - 3.8 million and 0.7/2 in AD18-49): Part 1 of the 8-part mini-series, ABC's The Asset drew 3.8 million viewers to nearly catch NBC's time-period established Parenthood (4.0 million) in the 10pm hour, pacing within just 200k viewers of the NBC veteran drama.

Quick Take for Thursday, January 2, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's New Thursday Line-Up Earns Second with a 33% Viewer Advantage Over NBC

From 8-10pm, ABC's Season 2 Opener of "The Taste" Outdelivers NBC's 2-Hour Premiere Comedy Block and Surges 34% from its Season 1 Finale in Total Viewers

Part 1 of ABC's "The Assets" Mini-Series Nearly Ties NBC's "Parenthood" in Viewers

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.4 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49):

Featuring the season premiere of "The Taste" and the first part of "The Assets" mini-series (ABC's new 8-week Thursday line-up until the mid-season return of its dramas in February), the Net took second place on Thursday, outdrawing NBC's premiere line-up by 33% in Total Viewers (4.4 million vs. 3.3 million) and tying in Adults 18-49 (1.1/3).

"The Taste" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 4.7 million and 1.2/3 in AD18-49):

Taking second place from 8:00-10:00 p.m. to CBS, ABC's season 2 premiere of "The Taste" (4.7 million and 1.2/3) beat out NBC's 2-hour comedy premiere block by strong margins ("Community"/"Community"/"Sean Saves the World"/"Michael J Fox Show" = 3.0 million and 1.0/3), leading by 57% in Total Viewers and 20% in Adults 18-49. The ABC unscripted series built 8% in Adults 18-49 from its first hour to its second hour.

· "The Taste" was up 34% over its season 1 finale in Total Viewers and held steady in Adults 18-49 (3.5 million and 1.2/3 on 3/12/13), outdrawing the final 3 telecasts of its first season - best since 2/19/13. Please note: "The Taste" debuted last year in late-January with higher overall viewing levels on Tuesday night against repeat competition on CBS.

"The Assets" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.8 million and 0.7/2 in AD18-49):

Part 1 of an 8-part mini-series, ABC's "The Assets" nearly tied NBC's time-period established "Parenthood" in the 10:00 p.m. hour, pacing within just 200k viewers (3.8 million vs. 4.0 million).

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 increased to 49% currently, from 47% at the same point in 2013. 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, 01/02/14.