"Scandal" Grows to Its 2nd-Best-Ever Numbers to Rank as the Week's #1 10pm Drama

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 7.5 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49): Opposite Game 5 of the ALCS playoffs, ABC earned second place on Thursday, beating Fox's baseball coverage by 4% (2.3/7) and doubling NBC on the night (+100% - 1.2/3). ABC was up over the year-ago Thursday for the 3rd week in a row in Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.3/7 on 10/18/12). ABC's Scandal was up 6% week to week (2nd-highest-ever number) and up 74% year to year, to stand as the week's #1 10pm drama (topping Blacklist on Monday by 10%) and as the #2 TV show on Thursday night for the 3rd week running (behind only The Big Bang Theory).

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (8-9pm - 4.5 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49): During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's Once Upon a Time in Wonderland beat NBC's comedies for the 2nd week in a row (Parks and Recreation/Welcome to the Family = 2.8 million and 1.1/3) in Total Viewers (+1.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9%). Based on Live + 3 Day for its series debut, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland saw its Adult 18-49 number build 35% to a 2.3 rating (+0.6 rating points), coming within 1-tenth of a rating point of Fox's The X-Factor (2.4 rating) in the 8pm hour. The new ABC drama debut also saw its Total Viewer count grow by 1.5 million to 7.3 million viewers in L+3. The freshman ABC 8pm drama essentially matched the delivery of NBC's veteran drama Parenthood on the night (1.2/4 vs. 1.3/4)

Grey's Anatomy (9-10pm - 8.6 million and 2.6/7 in AD18-49): At 9pm, ABC's Grey's Anatomy ranked #1 in Adults 18-49, beating Fox's MLB playoff coverage by 13% (2.3/6), CBS' comedies by 13% (The Crazy Ones/Two and a Half Men = 2.3/6) and once again more than doubled NBC's comedies (+117% over Sean Saves the World/The Michael J Fox Show = 1.2/3). Grey's delivered strong week to week retention in viewers (98%) and Adults 18-49 (93%).

Scandal (10-11pm - 9.5 million and 3.3/9 in AD18-49): Building on its Grey's lead-in for the 3rd week in a row in Adult 18-49 (by a best-ever +27%), ABC's Scandal (3.3/9) beat its combined drama competition on CBS (Elementary = 1.6/4) and NBC (Parenthood =1.3/4) by 14% in the 10pm hour. It also ranked #1 in the slot with Total Viewers. On average in Adults 18-49, Scandal is up 65% over its first three telecasts last year (3.3/10 vs. 2.0/6) making the ABC drama TV's fastest growing returning series this season. Scandal was up week to week in viewers (+6%) and young adults (+6%) to deliver the series' 2nd-best-ever numbers, behind only its 3rd season premiere two weeks ago.

Social Stats: All 3 of ABC's Thursday dramas ranked in the top 5 most social broadcast series of the evening, led by Scandal (#1, 283,626 tweets), Grey's (#3, 36,515 tweets) and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (#5 (11,342 tweets). Currently, Scandal ranks as ABC's most social series to date with over 2 million tweets.

Quick Take for Thursday, October 17, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Thursday Adult 18-49 Delivery is Up Year to Year for the 3rd Week in a Row

ABC's "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" Beats NBC's Comedies in the 8pm Hour

"Grey's Anatomy" Finishes a Strong No. 1 at 9 O'clock Hour with Adults 18-49

Building on its Lead-in by a Best-Ever 27%, "Scandal" Grows to its 2nd-Best Numbers

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.5 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):

Opposite Game 5 of the ALCS playoffs, ABC earned second place on Thursday, beating Fox's baseball coverage by 4% (2.3/7) and doubling NBC on the night (+100% - 1.2/3). ABC's "Scandal" was up 6% week to week (2nd-highest-ever number) and up 74% year to year, to stand as the week's No. 1 10:00 p.m. drama (also tracking as the week's No. 1 broadcast drama overall) and as the No. 2 TV show on Thursday for the 3rd week running (behind only "The Big Bang Theory").

· ABC was up over the year-ago Thursday for the 3rd week in a row in Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.3/7 on 10/18/12).

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 4.5 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" beat NBC's comedies for the 2nd week in a row ("Parks and Recreation"/"Welcome to the Family" = 2.8 million and 1.1/3) in Total Viewers (+1.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9%). The freshman ABC 8:00 p.m. drama essentially matched the delivery of NBC's veteran drama "Parenthood" on the night (1.2/4 vs. 1.3/4).

· Based on Live + 3 Day for its series debut, "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" saw its Adult 18-49 number build 35% to a 2.3 rating (+0.6 rating points) and also saw its Total Viewer count grow by 1.5 million to 7.3 million viewers.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.6 million and 2.6/7 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49, beating Fox's MLB playoff coverage by 13% (2.3/6), CBS' comedies by 13% ("The Crazy Ones"/"Two and a Half Men" = 2.3/6) and once again more than doubled NBC's comedies (+117% over "Sean Saves the World"/"The Michael J Fox Show" = 1.2/3).

· "Grey's" delivered strong week to week retention in viewers (98%) and young adults (93%).

"Scandal" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.5 million and 3.3/9 in AD18-49):

Building on its "Grey's" lead-in for the 3rd week in a row in Adult 18-49 (by a best-ever +27%), ABC's "Scandal" beat its combined drama competition by 14% on CBS ("Elementary" = 1.6/4) and NBC ("Parenthood" = 1.3/4) during the 10:00 p.m. hour. It also ranked No. 1 in the slot with Total Viewers.

· "Scandal" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults18-49 (+6%) to deliver the series' 2nd-best-ever numbers, behind only its 3rd season premiere two weeks ago.

· On average in Adults 18-49, "Scandal" is up 65% over its first three telecasts last year (3.3/9 vs. 2.0/6) making the ABC drama the fastest growing returning series this season.

Social Stats: All 3 of ABC's Thursday dramas ranked among the top 5 most social broadcast series of the evening, led by "Scandal" (No. 1 - 283,626 tweets), "Grey's" (No. 3 - 36,515 tweets) and "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (No. 5 - 11,342 tweets). Currently, "Scandal" ranks as ABC's most-social series to date with over 2 million tweets.

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 46% 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, 10/17/13.