ABC Ties a Big Bang Finale-Led CBS for #1 - Leads 3rd Straight Thursday in AD18-49

Thursday (05/07/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

Grey's Anatomy: L3 = 11.9 mil/3.2 rtg, L7 = 12.9 mil/3.4 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.4 rtg

Scandal: L3 = 10.9 mil/3.1 rtg, L7 = 11.5 mil/3.3 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.1 rtg

American Crime: L3 = 6.2 mil/1.4 rtg, L7 = 6.5 mil/1.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 1.9 rtg

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 6.5 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): ABC ranked #1 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), tying a Big Bang finale-led CBS, while beating Fox by 64% (1.1/4) and doubling NBC (+100% - 0.9/3). ABC was the #1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49 for the 3rd consecutive Thursday of the 2015 May Sweep. The Net built from the year-ago May Sweep Thursday by double digits (5.3 million and 1.4/4 on 5/8/14) in Total Viewers (+24%) and Adults 18-49 (+29%).

· ABC's Grey's Anatomy (2.2/8) and Scandal (2.2/7) tied as Thursday's #1 drama in Adults 18-49, while ranking as the night's #2 TV show, behind only CBS' The Big Bang Theory finale. In addition, Grey's and Scandal tied Thursday's #1 TV show overall with Women 18-34, outdelivering Big Bang Theory. Scandal was also the most social TV series last night (99,290 tweets).

Grey's Anatomy (8-9pm - 7.9 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49): At 8pm against The Big Bang Theory season ender and The Odd Couple, ABC's Grey's Anatomy took a strong second over Fox's Bones in Total Viewers (+68% - 7.9 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+100% - 2.2/8 vs. 1.1/4).

Scandal (9-10pm - 7.4 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): At 9pm, ABC's Scandal returned from the prior week's preemption to dominate its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), winning by strong double digits over CBS' comedies (+47% - 1.5/5) and NBC's The Blacklist (+57% - 1.4/5), while doubling Fox's Bones (+100% - 1.1/4). Scandal also drew a larger overall audience than NBC's The Blacklist (7.4 million vs. 6.7 million). The ABC drama was steady with its last telecast two weeks ago in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 on 4/23/15). Season to date, Scandal is up in both Total Viewers (+6% - 12.7 million vs. 12.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 4.4/13 vs. 4.3/13), tracking as its best season yet.

American Crime (10-11pm - 4.3 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49): At 10pm, ABC freshman American Crime grew 11% week to week to a 3-week high (since 4/16/15) in Adults 18-49 and nearly caught CBS' Elementary for the lead (1.0/3 vs. 1.1/4). The new show also spiked 19% week to week in Total Viewers (4.3 million vs. 3.6 million) to a 3-week high.

· The ABC freshman drama is also delivering increasing TV playback. In the most recent week of L+7 data (w/o 4/12/15), American Crime scored a series best in playback among Adults 18-49, with a 60% jump over its L+SD rating (1.6 vs. 1.0). On average season to date in the Live + 7 Day ratings, American Crime gains 46% in Adults 18-49 from its L+SD number and adds another 2.2 million viewers to its next-day tally.

Quick Take for Thursday, May 7, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Ranks No. 1 for the 3rd-Straight May Sweep Thursday in Adults 18-49

Thursday's No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49, "Grey's," Doubles Fox's "Bones" at 8pm

"Scandal" Returns to Win the 9pm Hour by 47% Over its Nearest Competition

"American Crime" Surges 19% in Viewers and 11% in Adults 18-49 Week to Week

Thursday (05/07/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"Grey's Anatomy": L3 = 11.9 mil/3.2 rtg, L7 = 12.9 mil/3.4 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.4 rtg

"Scandal": L3 = 10.9 mil/3.1 rtg, L7 = 11.5 mil/3.3 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.1 rtg

"American Crime": L3 = 6.2 mil/1.4 rtg, L7 = 6.5 mil/1.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 1.9 rtg

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):

ABC ranked No. 1 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), tying a "Big Bang" finale-led CBS while beating Fox by 64% (1.1/4) and doubling NBC (+100% - 0.9/3). ABC was the No. 1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49 for the 3rd-consecutive Thursday of the 2015 May Sweep. The Net built from the year-ago May Sweep Thursday by double digits (5.3 million and 1.4/4 on 5/8/14) in Total Viewers (+24%) and Adults 18-49 (+29%).

· ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (2.2/8) and "Scandal" (2.2/7) tied as Thursday's top-rated drama in Adults 18-49 while ranking as the night's No. 2 TV show, behind only CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" finale. In addition, they tied as Thursday's No. 1 TV show overall with Women 18-34, outdelivering "Big Bang Theory." "Scandal" was also the most social TV series on Thursday night (99,290 tweets).

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 7.9 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "The Big Bang Theory" season ender and "The Odd Couple," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" took a strong second over Fox's "Bones" in Total Viewers (+68% - 7.9 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+100% - 2.2/8 vs. 1.1/4).

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 7.4 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Scandal" returned from the prior week's preemption to dominate its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), winning by strong double digits over CBS' comedies (+47% - 1.5/5) and NBC's "The Blacklist" (+57% - 1.4/5) while doubling Fox's "Bones" (+100% - 1.1/4). "Scandal" also drew a larger overall audience than NBC's "The Blacklist" (7.4 million vs. 6.7 million), ranking as the most watched TV show in the hour. The ABC drama was steady with its last telecast two weeks ago in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 on 4/23/15).

· Season to date, "Scandal" is up in both Total Viewers (+8% - 13.0 million vs. 12.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 4.4/13 vs. 4.2/13), tracking as its best season yet.

"American Crime" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.3 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49):

At 10:00 p.m., ABC freshman "American Crime" grew 11% week to week to a 3-week high (since 4/16/15) in Adults 18-49 and nearly caught CBS' "Elementary" for the time-slot lead (1.0/3 vs. 1.1/4). The new ABC series also spiked 19% week to week in Total Viewers (4.3 million vs. 3.6 million) to a 3-week high.

· The ABC freshman drama is delivering increasing TV playback. In the most recent week of L+7 data (w/o 4/12/15), "American Crime" scored a series best in playback among Adults 18-49, with a 60% jump over its L+SD rating (1.6 vs. 1.0). On average season to date in the Live + 7 Day ratings, "American Crime" gains 46% in Adults 18-49 from its L+SD number and adds another 2.2 million viewers to its next-day tally.

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, 05/07/15.