ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Finale Dominates the "American Idol"-Thursday Finale and Finishes Out Its Best Season in 3 Years

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 5.5 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49): With a repeat Grey's Anatomy at 8pm, the season finale of Grey's at 9pm and Black Box at 10pm, ABC finished #1 on Thursday with Women 18-34 for the 12th week in a row. ABC's Grey's Anatomy was the #2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49, behind only CBS' The Big Bang Theory finale, and beating the Idol-Thursday finale.

Grey's Anatomy (9-10pm - 8.6 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49): More than quadrupling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+317%), ABC's season finale of Grey's Anatomy shot up to dominate its hour by 25% over runner up Fox's finale of Idol-Thursday (2.5/8 vs. 2.0/6). The show also won its hour over Idol in Total Viewers, Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54.

· Grey's was up over its week-ago Fast Affiliate numbers in Total Viewers (+15% - 8.6 million vs. 7.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9% - 2.5/8 vs. 2.3/7) Please Note: Last week's telecast adjusted up in the National ratings by nearly 500k viewers and by 2-tenths in Adults 18-49. Among Adults 25-54, the show was up 7% to equal its best number since its mid-season return in February - since 2/27/14.

· On average, Grey's Anatomy finished out its 10th season with gains in both Total Viewers (+10% - 12.1 million vs. 11.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 4.3/12 vs. 4.1/11), delivering its highest numbers in 4 and 3 years, respectively - since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Grey's is the 2013-14 season's #1 broadcast drama in Adults 18-49 (tie) and Adults 18-34.

Black Box (10-11pm - 4.2 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49): In the 10pm hour, ABC's Black Box beat the final hour of NBC's Rosemary's Baby mini-series by 14% in Total Viewers (4.2 million vs. 3.7 million) and tied in Adults 18-49 rating (1.1/4). In addition, the ABC drama ranked #1 in the hour with Women 18-34 and Women 18-49, leading CBS' Elementary finale by 83% and 13%, respectively.

· Black Box held even with its week's Fast Affiliate Adult 18-49 rating.

Quick Take for Thursday, May 15, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Finale Quadruples its Lead-in at 9pm to Dominate Fox's "Idol-Thursday" Finale and Finish as Thursday's No. 2 TV Program in Adults 18-49

"Grey's" is Up in the Prelims with Viewers and Key Adult Demos to Equal Its Top Adult 25-54 Rating Since its Mid-Season Return in February

ABC's "Black Box" Dominates CBS' "Elementary" Finale with Key Women

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.5 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49):

With a repeat "Grey's Anatomy" at 8:00 p.m., the season finale of "Grey's" at 9:00 p.m. and "Black Box" at 10:00 p.m., ABC won Thursday in Women 18-34 to rank as the No. 1 broadcaster on the night for the 12th week in a row.

· ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" was the No. 2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49, behind only CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" finale, beating the "Idol-Thursday" finale.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.6 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49):

More than quadrupling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+317%), ABC's season finale of "Grey's Anatomy" shot up to dominate its hour by 25% over runner-up Fox's finale of "Idol-Thursday" (2.5/8 vs. 2.0/6). The ABC drama also won its hour over "Idol" in Total Viewers, Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54.

· "Grey's" was up over its week-ago Fast Affiliate numbers in Total Viewers (+15% - 8.6 million vs. 7.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9% - 2.5/8 vs. 2.3/7). Please Note: Last week's telecast adjusted up in the National ratings by nearly 500k viewers and by 2-tenths in Adults 18-49. Among Adults 25-54, the show was up 7% to equal its best number since its mid-season return in February - since 2/27/14.

· On average, "Grey's Anatomy" finished out its 10th season with gains in both Total Viewers (+10% - 12.1 million vs. 11.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 4.3/12 vs. 4.1/11), delivering its highest numbers in 4 and 3 years, respectively - since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. "Grey's" is the 2013-14 season's No. 1 broadcast drama in Adults 18-49 (tie) and Adults 18-34.

"Black Box" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.2 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49):

In the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Black Box" beat the final hour of NBC's "Rosemary's Baby" mini-series by 14% in Total Viewers (4.2 million vs. 3.7 million) and tied in Adults 18-49 rating (1.1/4). In addition, the ABC drama ranked No. 1 in the hour with Women 18-34 and Women 18-49, leading CBS' "Elementary" finale by 83% and 13%, respectively.

· "Black Box" held even with its week-ago Fast Affiliate Adult 18-49 rating.

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 49% currently, from 47% at the same point in 2013. 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, 05/15/14.