ABC Claims Thursday's Top 2 Series as Each of its Dramas Grow in Adults 18-49

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 6.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): ABC finished a strong #2 on Thursday to CBS with NCAA Basketball Semifinals, beating Fox by 15% in Total Viewers (6.8 million vs. 5.9 million) and by 29% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 1.7/5). ABC's Scandal and Grey's stood as the night's Top 2 TV series in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, as both shows were up for the 2nd week with young adults. In addition, the Network ranked #1 for the 5th straight Thursday with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· ABC was up for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+5%) to deliver its best Thursday in 1 month - since 2/27/14.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (8-9pm - 3.3 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49): During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's Once Upon a Time in Wonderland was up 13% in Adults 18-49 to a 3-week high - since 3/6/14.

Grey's Anatomy (9-10pm - 8.1 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49): Nearly tripling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+178%), ABC's Grey's Anatomy (2.5/7) was once again the top-rated series in its hour, beating Fox's American Idol into the debut of Surviving Jack by 56% (1.6/5). Fox's American Idol delivered another all-time low 1.9 Adult 18-49 rating and the debut of Surviving Jack fell to a 1.3 rating. Grey's was up for the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49 (+4%).

Scandal (10-11pm - 8.8 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49): Building on its Grey's lead-in among Adults 18-49 at 10pm (+24%), ABC's Scandal (3.1/9) more than doubled its drama competition in the hour, beating NBC's Parenthood by 121% (1.4/4). Growing for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+7%), Scandal posted its best numbers since its mid-season return in February (on 2/27/14). In addition, the hit ABC drama grew by double-digits over its year-ago telecast (8.0 million and 2.6/7 on 3/28/13) in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+19%). Up by 39% season to date in Adults 18-49, ABC's Scandal is TV's fastest growing returning series.

Quick Take for Thursday, March 27, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC "Scandal" and "Grey's Anatomy" Finish as Thursday's Top 2 TV Series

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" Is Up 13% to a 3-Week High in Adults 18-49

Up for the 2nd Week, "Grey's" Dominates Fox's "Idol" and "Surviving Jack" at 9pm

Hitting a 1-Month High in Adults 18-49, "Scandal" More than Doubles Its 10pm Drama Competition and Grows by Double-Digits Over the Same Night Last Year

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

ABC finished a strong No. 2 on Thursday to CBS' NCAA Basketball Semifinals coverage, beating Fox by 15% in Total Viewers (6.8 million vs. 5.9 million) and by 29% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 1.7/5). ABC's "Scandal" and "Grey's Anatomy" stood as the night's Top 2 TV series in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, as both shows were up for the 2nd week with young adults. In addition, the Network ranked No. 1 for the 5th-straight Thursday with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· ABC was up for the 2nd week in a row with Adults 18-49 (+5%) to deliver its best Thursday in 1 month - since 2/27/14.

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 3.3 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" was up 13% in Adults 18-49 to a 3-week high - since 3/6/14.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.1 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49):

Nearly tripling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+178%), ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (2.5/7) was once again the top-rated series in its hour, beating Fox's combo of "American Idol" into the debut of "Surviving Jack" by 56% (1.6/5). Against "Grey's," Fox's "American Idol" delivered another all-time low 1.9 Adult 18-49 rating and the debut of "Surviving Jack" fell to a 1.3 rating.

· "Grey's" was up for the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49 (+4%).

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.8 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49):

Building from its "Grey's" lead-in among Adults 18-49 at 10:00 p.m. (+24%), ABC's "Scandal" (3.1/9) more than doubled its drama competition in the hour, beating NBC's "Parenthood" by 121% (1.4/4).

· Growing for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+7%), "Scandal" posted its best number since its mid-season return in February (on 2/27/14).

· The hit ABC drama grew by double-digits over its year-ago telecast (8.0 million and 2.6/7 on 3/28/13) in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+19%). Spiking 39% season to date in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Scandal" is TV's 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 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, 03/27/14.