ABC is #1 on the Opening Night of May for the First Time in 6 Years - Grey's Spikes to Best-Since-Premiere Numbers

Please Note: ABC's Adult 18-49 projections now include Multiplatform + 35 Days of playback

Thursday (04/23/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

Grey's Anatomy: L3 = 14.6 mil/4.2 rtg, L7 = 15.9 mil/4.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 5.7 rtg

Scandal: L3 = 11.3 mil/3.2 rtg, L7 = 11.9 mil/3.4 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.2 rtg

American Crime: L3 = 6.7 mil/1.5 rtg, L7 = 7.2 mil/1.6 rtg and MP+35 not yet available

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 7.1 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49): ABC ranked #1 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), tying CBS and more than doubling NBC (0.9/3) and Fox (0.9/3). It was Net's first time to rank #1 on the opening night of May Sweep in 6 years - since 2009. In fact, it was ABC's 3rd straight sweep this season to lead the opening night, also winning the first nights of the November 2014 and February 2015 Sweeps.

· ABC's Grey's Anatomy (2.8/10) and Scandal (2.3/7) were Thursday's Top 2 dramas in Adults 18-49, while ranking as the night's #2 and #3 TV shows, respectively, behind only CBS' The Big Bang Theory. In addition, Grey's and Scandal were Thursday's Top 2 TV shows with Women 18-34, outdelivering Big Bang Theory. Grey's was also the night's top-rated show with Adults 18-34 (tie).

· At 8pm against CBS' top-rated The Big Bang Theory and The Odd Couple, ABC's Grey's Anatomy won its hour in Adults 18-49 (2.8/10 vs. 2.7/10). Grey's spiked by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+24% - 9.4 million vs. 7.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+33% - 2.8/10 vs. 2.1/8), drawing its biggest audience and matching its best young adult number since its season premiere - since 9/25/14. The ABC drama was also up sharply over its year-ago May Sweep telecast in the 9pm hour (7.7 million and 2.3/7 on 4/24/14) in viewers (+23%) and young adults (+22%).

... more to come

ABC's Scandal Dominates the 9pm Hour - Beats NBC's The Blacklist by 64% in AD18-49

Please Note: ABC's Adult 18-49 projections now include Multiplatform + 35 Days of playback

Thursday (04/23/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

Grey's Anatomy: L3 = 14.6 mil/4.2 rtg, L7 = 15.9 mil/4.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 5.7 rtg

Scandal: L3 = 11.3 mil/3.2 rtg, L7 = 11.9 mil/3.4 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.2 rtg

American Crime: L3 = 6.7 mil/1.5 rtg, L7 = 7.2 mil/1.6 rtg and MP+35 not yet available

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 7.1 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49): ABC ranked #1 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), tying CBS and more than doubling NBC (0.9/3) and Fox (0.9/3). It was Net's first time to rank #1 on the opening night of May Sweep in 6 years - since 2009. In addition, it was ABC's 3rd straight sweep this season to lead the opening night, also winning the first nights of the November 2014 and February 2015 sweeps.

· ABC's Grey's Anatomy (2.8/10) and Scandal (2.3/7) were Thursday's Top 2 dramas in Adults 18-49, while ranking as the night's #2 and #3 TV shows, respectively, behind only CBS' The Big Bang Theory. In addition, Grey's and Scandal were once again Thursday's Top 2 TV shows with Women 18-34, outdelivering Big Bang Theory. Grey's was also the night's top-rated show with Adults 18-34 (tie).

Grey's Anatomy (8-9pm - 9.4 million and 2.8/10 in AD18-49): At 8pm against CBS' top-rated The Big Bang Theory and The Odd Couple, ABC's Grey's Anatomy won its hour in Adults 18-49 (2.8/10 vs. 2.7/10). Grey's spiked by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+24% - 9.4 million vs. 7.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+33% - 2.8/10 vs. 2.1/8), drawing its biggest audience and matching its best young adult number since its season premiere - since 9/25/14. The ABC drama was also up sharply over its year-ago May Sweep telecast in the 9pm hour (7.7 million and 2.3/7 on 4/24/14) in viewers (+23%) and young adults (+22%).

Scandal (9-10pm - 7.8 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49): At 9pm, ABC's Scandal dominated its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.3/7), winning by double digits over CBS' comedies (+28% - 1.8/6) and NBC's The Blacklist (+64% - 1.4/5) and by triple digits over Fox's Backstrom (+188% - 0.8/3). Scandal also outdrew NBC's The Blacklist in Total Viewers (+8% - 7.8 million vs. 7.2 million). The ABC drama was steady with the prior week in Total Viewers (7.8 million vs. 7.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 vs. 2.4/8).

American Crime (10-11pm - 4.1 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49): At 10pm, ABC freshman American Crime ranked #2 in the hour among the major nets with Adults 18-49 (0.9/3-tie), Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). The ABC freshman drama is seeing strong TV playback. On average season to date in the Live + 7 Day ratings, American Crime jumps 50% in Adults 18-49 from its L+SD number (gaining 7-tenths) and delivers another 2.4 million viewers to its next-day tally.

Quick Take for Thursday, April 23, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is No. 1 on the Opening Night of the May Sweep for the First Time in 6 Years

"Grey's" Spikes by Double Digits to a Best-Since-Premiere Performance

ABC's "Scandal" Wins its Hour for its 3rd Straight Telecast Among Adults 18-49

At 10pm, ABC's "American Crime" is No. 2 with Young Adults and Key Women

Thursday (04/16/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"Grey's Anatomy:" L3 = 14.6 mil/4.2 rtg, L7 = 15.9 mil/4.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 5.7 rtg

"Scandal:" L3 = 11.3 mil/3.2 rtg, L7 = 11.9 mil/3.4 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.2 rtg

"American Crime:" L3 = 6.7 mil/1.5 rtg, L7 = 7.2 mil/1.6 rtg and MP+35 not yet available

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.1 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):

ABC ranked No. 1 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), tying CBS and more than doubling NBC (0.9/3) and Fox (0.9/3). It was the Net's first time to rank No. 1 on the opening night of the May Sweep in 6 years - since 2009. In addition, it was ABC's 3rd straight sweep this season to lead the opening night, also winning the first nights of the November 2014 and February 2015 sweeps.

· ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (2.8/10) and "Scandal" (2.3/7) were Thursday's Top 2 dramas in Adults 18-49, while ranking as the night's No. 2 and No. 3 TV shows, respectively, behind only CBS' "The Big Bang Theory." In addition, the ABC dramas were once again Thursday's Top 2 TV shows with Women 18-34, outdelivering "Big Bang Theory." "Grey's" was also the night's top-rated show with Adults 18-34 (tie).

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 9.4 million and 2.8/10 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against CBS' top-rated "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Odd Couple," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" won its hour in Adults 18-49 (2.8/10 vs. 2.7/10).

· "Grey's" spiked by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+24% - 9.4 million vs. 7.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+33% - 2.8/10 vs. 2.1/8), drawing its biggest audience and equaling its best young adult number since its season premiere (on 9/25/14). The ABC drama was also up sharply over its year-ago May Sweep telecast in the 9:00 p.m. hour (7.7 million and 2.3/7 on 4/24/14) in viewers (+23%) and young adults (+22%).

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 7.8 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49):

In the 9:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Scandal" ranked No. 1 for its 3rd consecutive telecast among Adults 18-49 (2.3/7), winning by double digits over CBS' comedies (+28% - 1.8/6) and NBC's "The Blacklist" (+64% - 1.4/5) and by triple digits over Fox's "Backstrom" (+188% - 0.8/3). "Scandal" also outdrew NBC's "The Blacklist" in Total Viewers (+8% - 7.8 million vs. 7.2 million).

· The ABC drama was steady with the prior week in Total Viewers (7.8 million vs. 7.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 vs. 2.4/8).

"American Crime" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.1 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):

At 10:00 p.m., ABC freshman "American Crime" ranked No. 2 in the hour among the major nets with Adults 18-49 (0.9/3-tie), Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· The ABC freshman drama is seeing strong TV playback. On average season to date in the Live + 7 Day ratings, "American Crime" jumps +50% in Adults 18-49 from its L+SD number (gaining 7-tenths) and delivers another +2.4 million viewers to its next-day tally.

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, 04/23/15.