ABC Wins Final Thursday of the Season - #1 for the May Sweep on Thursday for the First Time in 6 Years

Thursday (05/14/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

Grey's Anatomy: L3 = 12.5 mil/3.2 rtg, L7 = 13.5 mil/3.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.4 rtg

Scandal: L3 = 11.8 mil/3.3 rtg, L7 = 12.5 mil/3.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.4 rtg

American Crime: L3 = 6.2 mil/1.4 rtg, L7 = 6.6 mil/1.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 1.8 rtg

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 6.9 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): ABC won the final Thursday of the season/sweep in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), beating debut/finale programming on CBS by 13% (1.6/6 w/finales of The Odd Couple and Elementary), NBC by 64% (1.1/4 w/The Blacklist finale) and Fox by 80% (1.0/4 w/Wayward Pines debut). The Net was the #1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49 on all 4 Thursdays of the 2015 May Sweep.

· On average during the sweep, ABC was up 27% on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (1.9 rating vs. 1.5 rating) and led the night during the month for the first time in 6 years - since May 2009. In fact, ABC was the only broadcaster up on the night May to May. ABC has now finished as the #1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49 on 15 of 22 nights so far in the 2015 May Sweep.

· ABC's season finales of Scandal (2.3/8) and Grey's Anatomy (2.2/8) ranked as Thursday's Top 2 TV shows in Adults 18-49, respectively. Please Note: Scandal aired its season finale last year in April with higher overall viewing levels and Grey's finale aired in an earlier time period this year.

Grey's Anatomy (8-9pm - 8.3 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49): At 8pm, ABC's Grey's Anatomy won its hour by 16% in Adults 18-49 over runner-up CBS (2.2/8 vs. 1.9/7) and beat its drama competition on Fox by 120% (1.0/4 = Bones). Grey's was up week to week in Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%).

Scandal (9-10pm - 8.1 million and 2.3/8 in AD18-49): At 9pm, ABC's Scandal finale topped its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.3/3) by strong double digits over CBS' comedies (+27% - 1.8/6) and NBC's The Blacklist (+53% - 1.5/5), while more than doubling Fox's Wayward Pines debut (+130% - 1.0/3). Scandal was also the most-watched TV show in the hour (8.1 million). The ABC drama grew week to week in Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%), drawing its largest overall audience in 9 weeks - since 3/12/15.

· On average for the season, Scandal was up in both Total Viewers (+8% - 12.9 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 (10-11pm - 4.3 million and 1.0/3 in AD18-49): At 10pm, ABC freshman American Crime grew for the 2nd week in Total Viewers (+2% - 4.3 million vs. 4.2 million) to a 4-week high (since 4/16/15) and held steady in Adults 18-49.

· The ABC freshman drama sees strong TV playback. On average season to date in the Live + 7 Day ratings, American Crime gains 58% in Adults 18-49 (7-tenths) from its L+SD number and adds another 2.2 million viewers to its next-day tally.

Quick Take for Thursday, May 14, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Tops Thursday in the May Sweep for the First Time in 6 Years in Adults 18-49

ABC's Finales of "Scandal" and "Grey's" Rank as Thursday's Top 2 TV Series

"Grey's Anatomy" Wins its Hour and Grows Week to Week in Adults 18-49

"Scandal" Dominates in Adults 18-49 with its Most-Watched Telecast in 9 Weeks

"American Crime" is Up for the 2nd Week in Total Viewers to a 4-Week High

Thursday (05/14/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"Grey's Anatomy:" L3 = 12.5 mil/3.2 rtg, L7 = 13.5 mil/3.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.4 rtg

"Scandal:" L3 = 11.8 mil/3.3 rtg, L7 = 12.5 mil/3.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 4.4 rtg

"American Crime: L3 = 6.2 mil/1.4 rtg, L7 = 6.6 mil/1.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 1.8 rtg

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.9 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):

ABC won the final Thursday of the season/sweep in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), beating debut/finale programming on CBS by 13% (1.6/6 w/finales of "The Odd Couple" and "Elementary"), NBC by 64% (1.1/4 w/"The Blacklist" finale) and Fox by 80% (1.0/4 w/"Wayward Pines" debut). The Net was the No. 1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49 on all 4 Thursdays of the 2015 May Sweep.

· On average during the sweep, ABC surged 27% on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (1.9 rating vs. 1.5 rating) and led the night during the month for the first time in 6 years - since May 2009. In fact, ABC was the only broadcaster up on the night May to May. ABC has now finished as the No. 1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49 on 15 of 22 nights so far in the 2015 May Sweep.

· ABC's season finales of "Scandal" (2.3/8) and "Grey's Anatomy" (2.2/8) ranked as Thursday's Top 2 TV series in Adults 18-49, respectively. Please Note: "Scandal" aired its season finale last year in April with higher overall viewing levels and the "Grey's" finale aired in an earlier time period this year.

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 8.3 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" finale won its hour by 16% in Adults 18-49 over runner-up CBS' comedies (2.2/8 vs. 1.9/7) and beat its drama competition on Fox by 120% ("Bones" = 1.0/4). "Grey's" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%).

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.1 million and 2.3/8 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Scandal" finale topped its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.3/8) by strong double digits over CBS' comedies (+27% - 1.8/6) and NBC's "The Blacklist" (+53% - 1.5/5), while more than doubling Fox's "Wayward Pines" debut (+130% - 1.0/3). "Scandal" was also the most-watched TV show in the hour for the 2nd week in a row (8.1 million). The ABC drama grew week to week in Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%), drawing its largest overall audience in 9 weeks - since 3/12/15.

· On average for the season, "Scandal" was up in both Total Viewers (+8% - 12.9 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., on its freshman finale, ABC's "American Crime" grew for the 2nd week in Total Viewers (+2% - 4.3 million vs. 4.2 million) to a 4-week high (since 4/16/15) and held steady in Adults 18-49 (1.0/3).

· The ABC freshman drama sees strong TV playback. On average season to date in the Live + 7 Day ratings, "American Crime" gains 58% in Adults 18-49 (7-tenths) 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, 05/14/15.