ABC's "Grey's" Dominates at 9pm with its 2nd Highest Number Since October

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

ABC ranked #2 to an Idol-led Fox on the opening night of the February Sweep in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In viewers and young adults, ABC posted its strongest Thursday in 3 weeks.

At 8pm, despite going up against American Idol and CBS' original comedies (The Big Bang Theory/$#*! My Dad Says), ABC's Winter Wipeout grew week to week in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%). The ABC unscripted series dominated NBC's original comedies (Community/Perfect Couples) in the hour, leading by 4.2 million viewers and by 47% in Adults 18-49. Building audience throughout its telecast, Wipeout ranked #2 to Idol at 8:30pm with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34, Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

· Although facing increased competition year to year, Wipeout improved the hour for ABC over the year-ago night by wide margins in viewers (+55%) and young adults (+92%).

On its first original telecast in 3 weeks, ABC's Grey's Anatomy turned in a dominant victory in Thursday's 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49, qualifying as the #1 series in the slot for its 13th consecutive original telecast this season. In its time period, Grey's beat out Fox's Idol-fueled Bones by 27%, NBC's comedies (The Office/Parks and Recreation) by 35% and CBS' CSI by 40%.

· On its return to first run, ABC's Grey's matched its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 number since mid-October � since 10/14/10.

Returning to original for the first time in 4 weeks, ABC's Private Practice beat out NBC's comedies (30 Rock/Outsourced) in the 10pm hour by 2.8 million viewers and by 24% in Adults 18-49. In addition, for its 12th straight original telecast this season, the ABC drama stood as the #1 scripted TV show in the 10 o'clock hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

Quick Take for Thursday, February 3, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Finishes No. 2 on the Opening Night of the February Sweep in Young Adults

Opposite Increased Competition, ABC's "Wipeout" Builds Week to Week and Improves its Hour Year to Year by 55% in Viewers and 92% in Adults 18-49

On its Return to Original, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Dominates its Slot In Adults 18-49, Marking its 2nd-Highest Number Since Mid-October

ABC's "Private Practice" Defeats NBC's 10pm Comedies by Wide Margins

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

ABC ranked No. 2 to an "Idol"-led Fox on the opening night of the February Sweep in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· In viewers (8.7 million) and young adults (3.1/8), ABC posted its strongest Thursday in 3 weeks.

"Wipeout" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

At 8:00 p.m., despite going up against Fox's "American Idol" and CBS' original comedies ("The Big Bang Theory"/"$#*! My Dad Says"), ABC's Winter "Wipeout" grew week to week in Total Viewers (+4% - 7.9 million vs. 7.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.5/7 vs. 2.4/7). The ABC unscripted series dominated NBC's original comedies ("Community"/"Perfect Couples" = 3.7 million and 1.7/5) in the hour, leading by 4.2 million viewers and by 47% in Adults 18-49. Building audience throughout its telecast, "Wipeout" ranked No. 2 to "Idol" at 8:30pm with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34, Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

· Although facing increased competition year to year, "Wipeout" improved the hour for ABC over the year-ago night by wide margins in viewers (+55%) and young adults (+92%).

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

On its first original telecast in 3 weeks, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" turned in a dominant victory in Thursday's 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49, qualifying as the No. 1 series in the slot for its 13th consecutive original telecast this season. In its time period, "Grey's" (4.2/11) beat out Fox's "Idol"-fueled "Bones" by 27% (3.3/9), NBC's comedies ("The Office"/"Parks and Recreation") by 35% (3.3/8) and CBS' "CSI" by 40% (3.0/8).

· On its return to first-run, ABC's "Grey's" matched its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 number since mid-October � since 10/14/10.

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

Returning to original for the first time in 4 weeks, ABC's "Private Practice" (7.1 million and 2.6/7) beat out NBC's comedies ("30 Rock"/"Outsourced" = 4.3 million and 2.1/6) in the 10:00 p.m. hour by 2.8 million viewers and by 24% in Adults 18-49. In addition, for its 12th straight original telecast this season, the ABC drama stood as the No. 1 scripted TV show in the 10 o'clock hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

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 39% currently, from 35% at the same point in 2010. 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), 2/3/11.