ABC's "Scandal" Scores Both Season and Series Highs

Info on ABC's Thursday, ahead of the regular press release.

Returning strong after the prior week's Thanksgiving preemption, ABC's Grey's Anatomy tripled its lead-in among Adults 18-49 at 9pm (+200% over Last Resort) to win in its hour and stand as Thursday's #1 drama for its 7th straight telecast this season. During the 9'clock hour among young adults, Grey's beat out CBS' Person of Interest by 3%, Fox's Glee by 36% and NBC's comedies by 88% (The Office/Parks and Recreation). In addition, the ABC drama once again dominated the hour with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Building its Women 18-34 audience for its 2nd consecutive telecast, Grey's posted its highest rating in 5 weeks - since 10/18/12.

ABC's Scandal caught CBS' Elementary to rank #1 in the 10 o'clock hour with Adults 18-49, while leading by wide margins over NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams in Total Viewers (+97%) and Adults 18-49 (+144%). Additionally, Scandal dominated Elementary in the hour in Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Surging over its most recent telecast 2 weeks ago in viewers (+12%) and young adults (+10%), Scandal drew its 2nd-largest audience of the season and posted a new season high in Adults 18-49. In addition the show spiked over its last telecast by 20% in Adults 18-34 and by 24% in Women 18-34, achieving new series highs on both counts.

Quick Take for Thursday, November 29, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Triples its Adult 18-49 Lead-in at 9pm to Win its Hour And Finish as Thursday No. 1 Drama for its 7th Consecutive Broadcast this Season

"Scandal" Ranks No. 1 in its Hour in Adults 18-49 at a New Season High, While Surging to New All-Time Highs in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34

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

Returning strong after the prior week's Thanksgiving preemption, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" tripled its lead-in among Adults 18-49 at 9:00 p.m. (+200% over "Last Resort") to win in its hour and stand as Thursday's No. 1 drama for its 7th straight telecast this season. During the 9'clock hour among young adults, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (3.0/8) beat out CBS' "Person of Interest" by 3% (2.9/7), Fox's "Glee" by 36% (2.2/6) and NBC's comedies by 88% (1.6/4 - "The Office"/"Parks and Recreation"). In addition, the ABC drama once again dominated the hour with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Building its Women 18-34 audience for its 2nd consecutive telecast, "Grey's" posted its highest rating in 5 weeks - since 10/18/12.

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Scandal" caught CBS' "Elementary" to rank No. 1 in the 10 o'clock hour with Adults 18-49 (2.2/6), while leading by wide margins over NBC's "Rock Center with Brian Williams" in Total Viewers (+97% - 6.7 million vs. 3.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+144% - 2.2/6 vs. 0.9/2). Additionally, "Scandal" led by double to triple digits over "Elementary" with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Surging over its most recent telecast 2 weeks ago in viewers (+12%) and young adults (+10%), "Scandal" drew its 2nd-largest audience of the season and posted a new season high in Adults 18-49. In addition the show spiked over its last telecast by 20% in Adults 18-34 and by 24% in Women 18-34, achieving new series highs on both counts.

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 46% currently, from 43% 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, 11/29/12.