"Grey's" Opens with Its Top Rating Since Last October and as Thursday's #1 Drama

ABC Prime (8-11pm - 7.9 million and 2.7/8 in AD18-49): With an encore of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Grey's premiere, ABC finished #2 on season-premiere Thursday in viewers and young adults, defeating Fox and NBC. The 10th season 2-hour premiere of Grey's Anatomy was Thursday's dominant #1 drama in AD18-49 (3.4/9), outdelivering Fox's Glee (+70% - 2.0/5), CBS' Elementary (+62% - 2.1/6) and NBC's Parenthood (+113% - 1.6/5). Grey's opened ahead of its May finale in viewers and young adults. ABC posted its highest rated Thursday with series programming in 1 year - since 9/27/12.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. encore (8-9pm - 5.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49): Gaining additional exposure with its Thursday replay, through 2 telecasts ABC's debut episode of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has delivered a combined 17.3 million viewers and a 6.1/18 in AD18-49. The ABC repeat drama drew 1.9 million more viewers in the hour than NBC's Parks and Recreation (3.3 million and 1.3/4) premiere and also led by 8% in AD18-49.

Grey's Anatomy Season 10 premiere (9-11pm - 9.3 million and 3.4/9 in AD18-49): Building sharply on its lead-in at 9pm, Grey's was up over its May finale (9.0 million and 3.1/9 on 5/16/13) by 3% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49, with its largest audience since March (3/21/13) and its highest young adult number since October (10/4/12). The ABC drama won its 2-hour time period by 21% over runner-up CBS (3.4/9 vs. 2.8/8).

Quick Take for Thursday, September 26, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Takes No. 2 on Season-Premiere Thursday with its Best Number in 1 Year

ABC's Encore of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Brings the Debut Episode's 2-Night Total Numbers to 17.3 Million Viewers and a 6.1/18 in Adults 18-49

"Grey's Anatomy" Opens its 10th Season as Thursday's Dominant No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49, Up 10% Over its May Finale with its Highest Rating Since October

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.9 million and 2.7/8 in AD18-49):

With an encore of "S.H.I.E.L.D." and the "Grey's" premiere, ABC finished No. 2 on season-premiere Thursday in viewers and young adults, defeating Fox (5.8 million and 2.0/6) and NBC (5.3 million and 1.7/5). The 10th season 2-hour premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" was Thursday's dominant No. 1 drama in Adults 18-49 (3.4/9), outdelivering Fox's "Glee" (+70% - 2.0/5), CBS' "Elementary" (+62% - 2.1/6) and NBC's "Parenthood" (+113% - 1.6/5). "Grey's" opened ahead of its May finale in viewers and young adults.

· ABC posted its highest rated Thursday with series programming in 1 year - since 9/27/12.

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Encore (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

Gaining additional exposure with its Thursday replay, through 2 telecasts ABC's debut episode of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." has delivered a combined 17.3 million viewers and a 6.1/18 in Adults 18-49. The ABC repeat drama drew 1.9 million more viewers in the hour than NBC's "Parks and Recreation" premiere and also led by 8% in Adults 18-49 (3.3 million and 1.3/4).

"Grey's Anatomy" Season 10 Premiere (9:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.3 million and 3.4/9 in AD18-49):

Building sharply on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., "Grey's" was up over its May finale (9.0 million and 3.1/9 on 5/16/13) by 3% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49, with its largest audience since March (3/21/13) and its highest young adult number since October (10/4/12). The ABC drama won its 2-hour time period by 21% over runner-up CBS (3.4/9 vs. 2.8/8).

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 48% currently, from 45% at the same point in 2012. 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, 09/26/13.