ABC Wins Opening 2 Thursdays in Feb Sweep for First Time in 7 Years

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 8.6 million and 2.7/9 in AD18-49): ABC won its 2nd-straight Thursday of the February Sweep in Adults 18-49 (2.7/9), beating CBS by 13% (2.4/8 = 8-10pm comedies/Elementary), Fox by 59% (1.7/5 = American Idol/Backstrom) and NBC by 80% (1.5/5 = Blacklist premiere/Allegiance series debut). In fact, it was the first time in 7 years for the Net to win the first two Thursdays of the Feb Sweep - since 2008.

· ABC's Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, which dominated NBC's Blacklist and Allegiance, stood as Thursday's Top 2 dramas in Adults 18-49. Despite facing increased competition week to week from NBC's Thursday premieres, ABC's TGIT held 87% of its big return delivery last week in the Adult 18-49 Fast Affiliate numbers (2.7/9 vs. 3.1/10), which was a best-since-premiere performance on the night. Please Note: Both Grey's and HTGAWM adjusted up by 1-tenth last week from the Fast Affiliate to National ratings in Adults 18-49.

· The Net was up from the year-ago February Sweep Thursday by 170% in Adults 18-49 (1.0/3 on 2/6/14).

Grey's Anatomy (8-9pm - 7.9 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm opposite Big Bang and American Idol, ABC's Grey's Anatomy won its hour by 30% over its closest competition among Women 18-34 (3.0/11 vs. 2.3/9-CBS).

Scandal (9-10pm - 9.5 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49): At 9pm, ABC's Scandal (3.1/9) jumped up to #1 in Adults 18-49, besting NBC's time-slot premiere of Blacklist by 35% (2.3/7), CBS' comedies by 48% (Two and a Half Men/Big Bang-R = 2.1/6) and Fox's Backstrom by 210% (1.0/3).

· Scandal was up by double digits from its comparable 2nd telecast after its mid-season return last year (8.5 million and 2.8/8 on 3/6/14) in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+11%).

How to Get Away with Murder (10-11pm - 8.3 million and 2.7/9 in AD18-49): From 10-11pm, ABC's How to Get Away with Murder (2.7/9) overshadowed its hour in Adults 18-49 over its CBS (+80% - Elementary = 1.5/5) and NBC (+145% - Allegiance debut = 1.1/3) drama competition. In fact for the 2nd week in a row, HTGAWM beat its combined drama competition in Adults 18-49 (+4%). The freshman drama was also the most-watched TV show overall in the slot for its 6th straight original telecast.

Quick Take for Thursday, February 5, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Wins the First 2 Thursdays of the Feb Sweep for the First Time in 7 Years

From 8-9pm, "Grey's" Dominates CBS' Comedies and "Idol" in Women 18-34

"Scandal" is Up by Double Digits from its Comparable Telecast Last Season

"HTGAWM" Tops its Combined 10pm Drama Competition for 2nd Straight Week

Thursday (02/05/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"Grey's Anatomy:" Live + 3 = 12.3 million/3.3 rating and Live + 7 = 13.3 million/3.5 rating

"Scandal:" Live + 3 = 13.9 million/4.5 rating and Live + 7 = 14.6 million/4.7 rating

"HTGAWM:" Live + 3 = 13.6 million/4.3 rating and Live + 7 = 14.6 million/4.6 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.6 million and 2.7/9 in AD18-49):

ABC won its 2nd-straight Thursday of the February Sweep in Adults 18-49 (2.7/9), beating CBS by 13% (2.4/8 = 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedies/"Elementary"), Fox by 59% (1.7/5 = "American Idol"/"Backstrom") and NBC by 80% (1.5/5 = "The Blacklist" premiere/"Allegiance" series debut). In fact, it was the first time in 7 years for the Net to win the first 2 Thursdays of the February Sweep - since 2008.

· ABC's "Scandal" and "How to Get Away with Murder," which dominated NBC's "Blacklist" and "Allegiance," stood as Thursday's Top 2 dramas in Adults 18-49. Despite facing increased competition week to week from NBC's Thursday premieres, ABC's TGIT lineup held 87% of its big return delivery last week in the Adult 18-49 Fast Affiliate numbers (2.7/9 vs. 3.1/10), which was a best-since-premiere performance on the night. Please Note: Both "Grey's" and "HTGAWM" adjusted up by 1-tenth last week from the Fast Affiliate to National ratings in Adults 18-49.

· The Net was up from the year-ago February Sweep Thursday by 170% in Adults 18-49 (1.0/3 on 2/6/14).

· ABC was the most social network on Thursday for the 2nd week running with "Scandal" at No. 1 (343,680 tweets), "HTGAWM" at No. 2 (77,329 tweets) and "Grey's" at No. 3 (66,173 tweets).

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 7.9 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. opposite "Big Bang" and "American Idol," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" won its hour by 30% over its closest competition among Women 18-34 (3.0/11 vs. 2.3/9 - CBS).

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 9.5 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Scandal" (3.1/9) jumped up to No. 1 in Adults 18-49, besting NBC's time-slot premiere of "The Blacklist" by 35% (2.3/7), CBS' comedies by 48% ("Two and a Half Men"/"Big Bang-R" = 2.1/6) and Fox's "Backstrom" by 210% (1.0/3).

· "Scandal" was up by double digits from its comparable 2nd telecast after its mid-season return last year (8.5 million and 2.8/8 on 3/6/14) in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+11%).

"How to Get Away with Murder" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.3 million and 2.7/9 in AD18-49):

From 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's "How to Get Away with Murder" (2.7/9) overshadowed its hour in Adults 18-49, eclipsing its CBS (+80% - Elementary = 1.5/5) and NBC (+145% - Allegiance debut = 1.1/3) drama competition. In fact for the 2nd week in a row, "HTGAWM" beat its combined drama competition in Adults 18-49 (+4%). The freshman drama was also the most-watched TV show overall in the slot for its 6th straight original telecast.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 49% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2014-15 season for premiere telecast or an average for originals (excluding the premiere).

Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).

New Series: Based on similar series.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 02/05/15. Nielsen Socialguide for 02/05/15, Total Tweets +/- 3hrs during telecast. NOTE: Due to the digital transition, the 2009 February sweep was 3/5 - 4/1/09.