ABC's Thursday Holds Strong Against NCAA Basketball - Scandal and Grey's Ranks as the Top 2 Series

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 7.3 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49): Opposite CBS' high-rated NCAA Basketball coverage (Regional Semi Finals), ABC (1.9/6) towered over the Thursday deliveries of both NBC (+73% - 1.1/4) and Fox (+73% - 1.1/4) in Adults 18-49. The Net was up week to week in viewers (+4%) and steady with young adults.

· For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's Scandal (2.3/7) and Grey's (2.2/8) stood as Thursday's Top 2 TV series in Adults 18-49.

Grey's Anatomy (8-9pm - 8.2 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49): At 8pm, ABC's Grey's Anatomy won its hour for the 2nd week in a row, beating Fox's Bones by 69% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/8 vs. 1.3/4). Grey's was up week to week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%), drawing its biggest audience since its mid-season return 8 weeks ago - since 1/29/15.

Scandal (9-10pm - 8.1 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49): At 9pm, ABC's Scandal took first place in its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.3/7), widening its lead over NBC's The Blacklist (+44% - 1.6/5) and more than doubling Fox's Backstrom (+156% - 0.9/3). Scandal gained 4% in viewers and was on par with the prior week in young adults (pacing within 1-tenth and tied in share).

American Crime (10-11pm - 5.5 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49): At 10pm, ABC freshman American Crime ran as the #1 series in the slot for the 4th straight week in Adults 18-49, overshadowing NBC's competing freshman The Slap by 62% in Total Viewers (5.5 million vs. 3.4 million) and by 71% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 0.7/2). Despite facing much stronger competition in the hour this week from Basketball Tournament coverage, the new ABC drama was steady week to week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while building with Adults 18-34 (+14%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%).

· In the Live + 3 Day numbers for last week's telecast, American Crime jumped 50% in Adults 18-49 from its L+SD rating (1.2 rating to a 1.8 rating) and added on another 1.8 million viewers, bringing its total to 7.4 million.

Quick Take for Thursday, March 26, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"Scandal" and "Grey's" Rank as Thursday's Top 2 Series In Adults 18-49 for the 2nd Consecutive Week

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" Draws its Largest Audience in 2 Months

"Scandal" is No. 1 at 9pm in Adults 18-49, Increasing its Lead over NBC's "Blacklist"

"American Crime" is the No. 1 Series in its Slot for the 4th Week Running In Adults 18-49, Beating NBC's Competing Freshman Drama "The Slap" by 71%

Thursday (03/26/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"Grey's Anatomy:" Live + 3 = 12.7 million/3.3 rating and Live + 7 = 13.7 million/3.5 rating

"Scandal:" Live + 3 = 11.7 million/3.3 rating and Live + 7 = 12.3 million/3.5 rating

"American Crime:" Live + 3 = 9.0 million/2.0 rating and Live + 7 = 9.6 million/2.1 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.3 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

Opposite CBS' high-rated NCAA Basketball coverage (Regional Semi Finals), ABC (1.9/6) towered over the Thursday deliveries of both NBC (+73% - 1.1/4) and Fox (+73% - 1.1/4) in Adults 18-49. The Net was up week to week in viewers (+4%) and steady with young adults.

· For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Scandal" (2.3/7) and "Grey's Anatomy" (2.2/8) stood as Thursday's Top 2 TV series in Adults 18-49.

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 8.2 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" won its hour for the 2nd week in a row, beating Fox's "Bones" by 69% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/8 vs. 1.3/4). "Grey's" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%), drawing its biggest audience since its mid-season return 8 weeks ago - since 1/29/15.

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.1 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Scandal" took first place in its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.3/7), widening its lead over NBC's "The Blacklist" (+44% - 1.6/5) and more than doubling Fox's "Backstrom" (+156% - 0.9/3). "Scandal" gained 4% in viewers and was on par with the prior week in young adults (pacing within 1-tenth and tied in share).

"American Crime" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.5 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):

At 10:00 p.m., ABC freshman "American Crime" ran as the No. 1 series in the slot for the 4th straight week in Adults 18-49, overshadowing NBC's competing freshman "The Slap" by 62% in Total Viewers (5.5 million vs. 3.4 million) and by 71% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 0.7/2). Despite facing much stronger competition in the hour this week from Basketball Tournament coverage, the new ABC drama was steady week to week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while building with Adults 18-34 (+14%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%).

· In the Live + 3 Day numbers for last week's telecast, "American Crime" jumped 50% in Adults 18-49 from its L+SD rating (1.2 rating to a 1.8 rating) and added on another 1.8 million viewers, bringing its total to 7.4 million.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 49% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2014-15 season for premiere telecast or an average for originals (excluding the premiere).

Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).

New Series: Based on similar series.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 03/26/15.