Private Practice Marks Best-Since-Premiere Results/Grey's is #1 TV Show for 4th Straight Thursday

Some early points on ABC's Thursday, ahead of the regular press release.

ABC took second place on Thursday in Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.9/8), while finishing #1 on the evening for the 4th time in 4 weeks this season with Adults 18-34 and key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49).

Jumping over its lead-in (+186% in Viewers/+309% in Adults 18-49), self-starter Grey's Anatomy shot to the top of Thursday's 9 o'clock hour to register as the #1 TV show on the evening for the 4th week in a row in Adults 18-49. In its time period, Grey's (4.5/12) outdelivered NBC's comedies by +45% (The Office/Outsourced - 3.1/9), CBS' CSI +45% (3.1/8) and Fox's Fringe by +137% (1.9/5).

In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Private Practice ran a strong second to CBS' The Mentalist, beating out NBC's The Apprentice by 4.6 million viewers (8.3 million vs. 3.7 million) and by 131% in (3.0/9 vs. 1.3/4). For the 4th straight week, Private Practice dominated The Mentalist with Adults 18-34, outdelivering the CBS drama by 42% (2.7/8 vs. 1.9/6).

· Building its young adult audience for the 2nd week running, Private Practice posted its strongest performance since its season premiere (on 9/23/10) in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Thursday, October 14, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is No. 1 on Thursday for the 4th Straight Week in Adults 18-34 and Key Women

Surging Over its Lead-in and Shooting to the Top of the 9pm Hour, ABC's "Grey's" is Thursday's No. 1 TV Show in Adults 18-49 for the 4th Straight Week

Growing its Young Adult Audience for the 2nd Consecutive Week, ABC's "Private Practice" Marks its Best Results Since its September Season Opener

Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC took second place on Thursday in Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.9/8), while finishing No. 1 on the evening for the 4th time in 4 weeks this season with Adults 18-34 and key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49).

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Jumping over its lead-in (+186% in Viewers/+309% in Adults 18-49), ABC self-starter "Grey's Anatomy" shot to the top of Thursday's 9 o'clock hour to register as the No.1 TV show on the evening for the 4th week in a row in Adults 18-49. In its time period, "Grey's" (4.5/12) outdelivered NBC's comedies by +45% ("The Office"/"Outsourced" - 3.1/9), CBS' "CSI" +45% (3.1/8) and Fox's "Fringe" by +137% (1.9/5).

"Private Practice" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Private Practice" ran a strong second to CBS' "The Mentalist," beating out NBC's "The Apprentice" by 4.6 million viewers (8.3 million vs. 3.7 million) and by 131% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/9 vs. 1.3/4). For the 4th straight week, "Private Practice" dominated "The Mentalist" with Adults 18-34, outdelivering the CBS drama by 42% (2.7/8 vs. 1.9/6).

· Building its young adult audience for the 2nd week running, "Private Practice" posted its strongest performance since its season premiere (on 9/23/10) in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

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 38% currently, from 33% at the same point in 2009. 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), 10/14/10.