ABC's "Grey's"-"Private Practice" Crossover Scores Best Retention since Nov '10

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

From 8-9pm opposite CBS' comedies (The Big Bang Theory/Rob) and Fox's American Idol, ABC's Winter Wipeout continued to outdraw NBC's comedies in the hour, beating the 30 Rock/Parks and Recreation combo by 1.5 million viewers. The ABC unscripted series gained viewers and young adults from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

More than doubling its lead-in (+107%) against the second half of Fox's 2-hour Idol, ABC's Grey's Anatomy stood as the #1 scripted show in the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS' Person of Interest by 7% and NBC's comedies (The Office/Up All Night) by 63%.

· ABC's Grey's Anatomy qualified as Thursday's #1 drama in the key young adult sales demographic for its 14th straight original telecast this season.

During the 10 o'clock hour in a crossover episode with Grey's Anatomy, ABC's Private Practice delivered best-of-season lead-in retention (84%) to finish in a virtual tie for #1 with CBS' The Mentalist among Adults 18-49 (tied in audience share). In fact, Private Practice posted its strongest lead-in retention coming out of an original Grey's since November 2010 - since 11/4/10. Leading its CBS drama competition among younger viewers, ABC's Private Practice defeated The Mentalist by 36% in Adults 18-34.

· Surging week to week in Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 18-49 (+18%), ABC's Private Practice marked 6-week highs on both Nielsen measures - since 1/5/12.

· The ABC drama grew over its year-ago telecast (on 2/17/11) in both viewers (+6%) and young adults (+13%)

Quick Take for Thursday, February 16, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Growing its Audience During the 8pm Hour Against CBS' Comedies and "Idol," ABC's "Winter Wipeout" Outdraws NBC's Original Comedy Block by 1.5 Million Viewers

More than Doubling its Adult 18-49 Lead-in at 9pm Against the 2nd Hour of "Idol," ABC's "Grey's" Finishes as Thursday's No. 1 Drama for its 14th Straight Original

Hitting 6-Week Highs and Growing Year to Year, ABC's "Private Practice" Scores Its Strongest Lead-in Retention Out of an Original "Grey's" Since November 2010

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

From 8:00-9:00 p.m. opposite CBS' comedies ("The Big Bang Theory"/"Rob") and Fox's "American Idol," ABC's "Winter Wipeout" continued to outdraw NBC's comedies in the hour, beating the "30 Rock"/"Parks and Recreation" combo by 1.5 million viewers (5.1 million vs. 3.6 million).

· The ABC unscripted series gained viewers (+4% - 5.0 million to 5.2 million) and young adults (+7% - 1.4/4 to 1.5/4) from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.

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

More than doubling its lead-in (+107%) against the second half of Fox's 2-hour "Idol," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" stood as the No. 1 scripted show in the 9 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (3.1/8), outdelivering CBS' "Person of Interest" by 7% (2.9/7) and NBC's comedies ("The Office"/"Up All Night") by 63% (1.9/5).

· ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" qualified as Thursday's No. 1 drama in the key young adult sales demographic for its 14th straight original telecast this season.

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

During the 10 o'clock hour in a crossover episode with "Grey's Anatomy," ABC's "Private Practice" delivered best-of-season lead-in retention (84%) to finish in a virtual tie for No. 1 with CBS' "The Mentalist" among Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 2.8/7 - tied in audience share). In fact, "Private Practice" posted its strongest lead-in retention coming out of an original "Grey's" since November 2010 - since 11/4/10. Leading its CBS drama competition among younger viewers, ABC's "Private Practice" defeated "The Mentalist" by 36% in Adults 18-34 (1.9/6 vs. 1.4/4).

· Surging week to week in Total Viewers (+9% - 7.1 million vs. 6.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+18% - 2.6/7 vs. 2.2/6), ABC's "Private Practice" marked 6-week highs on both Nielsen measures - since 1/5/12.

· The ABC drama grew over its year-ago telecast (6.7 million and 2.3/7 on 2/17/11) in both viewers (+6%) and young adults (+13%)

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 43% currently, from 39% at the same point in 2011. 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), 02/16/12.