ABC's Thursday Surges Against the World Series

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

Up against Fox's extra-innings 2011 World Series Game 6 on the opening night of the November Sweep, ABC stood as the #1 non-sports Net on Thursday with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Despite going up against the World Series, ABC surged by double-percentages week to week in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%). In fact the Net marked its most-watched Thursday in 4 weeks and posted its top Adult 18-49 number on the night since season-premiere Thursday (on 9/22/11).

In the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's special annual rebroadcast of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on its 45th anniversary produced a season high for the Net in the hour among Adults 18-49. With the rebroadcast animated Halloween special, ABC beat out NBC's original comedies (Community/Parks and Recreation) to stand as the #2 non-sports net in the hour among Adults 18-49, while ranking #1 overall with Kids 2-11.

· It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was up over its performance in the hour on the same night last year with Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%), and jumped by 36% with Teens 12-17 and by 12% with Kids 2-11.

Building on its lead-in (+61%) at 9pm and growing week to week opposite the World Series, ABC self-starter Grey's Anatomy qualified as Thursday's #1 drama in Adults 18-49 for the 6th straight week this season. Beating out its non-sports competition in the 9 o'clock hour by strong margins with young adults, Grey's outdelivered CBS' Person of Interest by a best-yet 42% and NBC's original comedies (The Office/Whitney) by a best-of-season 54%. In addition, the ABC drama won its time slot for the 2nd week in a row over the World Series across all key Women measures (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Grey's qualified as Thursday's #1 TV show overall with Women 18-49 for the 5th time in 6 telecasts this season.

· Although it faced the World Series, Grey's rose week to week in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+3%), hitting a best-since-premiere number in the key young adult sales demo. Building its Men 18-49 audience (+11%) for the 2nd week in a row against the Fall Classic, Grey's equaled a season high.

Up week to week, ABC's Private Practice ran neck-and-neck with CBS' The Mentalist for the series lead in the 10 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1 tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share). Defeating The Mentalist, Private Practice finished as the #1 drama in the hour for the 5th consecutive week with Adults 18-34 and among key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· Gaining week to week in viewers and young adults, Private Practice scored best-since premiere numbers across a number of key measures: Total Viewers, as well as across all key Adult and Women demographics.

Quick Take for Thursday, October 27, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Opposite the World Series, ABC Surges by Double-Digit Percentages Week to Week, Marking its Top Adult 18-49 Number on the Night Since Season-Premiere Thursday

On its 45th Anniversary, ABC's Annual Rebroadcast of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" Posts a Season High in the Time Period and Grows Year to Year

Thursday's No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49 for the 6th Straight Week, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Marks a Best-Since-Premiere Performance

ABC's "Private Practice" Marks Best-Since-Premiere Numbers in Key Measures

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

Up against Fox's extra-innings 2011 World Series Game 6 on the opening night of the November Sweep, ABC stood as the No. 1 non-sports Net on Thursday with Adults 18-34 (2.2/6) and across all key Women demos: W18-34 (3.3/9), W18-49 (4.0/10) and W25-54 (4.8/11).

· Despite going up against the World Series, ABC surged by double-percentages week to week in Total Viewers (+10% - 7.9 million vs. 7.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% - 2.8/7 vs. 2.4/6). In fact the Net marked its most-watched Thursday in 4 weeks and posted its top Adult 18-49 number on the night since season-premiere Thursday (on 9/22/11).

"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

In the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's special annual rebroadcast of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on its 45th anniversary produced a season high for the Net in the hour among Adults 18-49 (2.3/6). With the rebroadcast animated Halloween special, ABC beat out NBC's original comedies by 44% ("Community"/"Parks and Recreation" = 1.6/4) to stand as the No. 2 non-sports net in the hour among Adults 18-49, while ranking No. 1 overall with Kids 2-11 (3.8/12).

· "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was up over its performance in the hour on the same night last year with Total Viewers (+6% - 7.4 million vs. 7.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.3/6 vs. 2.2/6), while jumping year to year by 36% in Teens 12-17 and by 12% with Kids 2-11.

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

Building on its lead-in (+61%) at 9:00 p.m. and growing week to week opposite the World Series, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" qualified as Thursday's No. 1 drama in Adults 18-49 for the 6th straight week this season. Beating out its non-sports competition in the 9 o'clock hour by strong margins with young adults, "Grey's" (3.7/9) outdelivered CBS' "Person of Interest" by a best-yet 42% (2.6/6) and NBC's original comedies ("The Office"/"Whitney") by a best-of-season 54% (2.4/6). In addition, the ABC drama won its time slot for the 2nd week in a row over the World Series across all key Women measures (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). "Grey's" qualified as Thursday's No. 1 TV show overall with Women 18-49 for the 5th time in 6 telecasts this season.

· Although it faced the World Series, "Grey's" rose week to week in Total Viewers (+3% - 9.8 million vs. 9.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+3% - 3.7/9 vs. 3.6/9), hitting a best-since-premiere number in the key young adult sales demo. Building its Men 18-49 audience (+11%) for the 2nd week in a row against the Fall Classic, "Grey's" equaled a season high.

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

Up week to week, ABC's Private Practice ran neck-and-neck with CBS' "The Mentalist" for the series lead in the 10 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (2.4/6 vs. 2.5/6 - pacing within 1 tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share). Defeating "The Mentalist," "Private Practice" finished as the No. 1 drama in the hour for the 5th consecutive week with Adults 18-34 and among key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· Gaining week to week in viewers (6.6 million vs. 6.4 million) and young adults (2.4/6 vs. 2.3/6), "Private Practice" scored best-since premiere numbers across a number of key measures: Total Viewers, as well as across all key Adult and Women demographics.

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 42% currently, from 38% 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), 10/27/11.