ABC Poised to Once Again Win Thursday in L+3 AD18-49 - Delivers Night's Top 2 Dramas

ABC Thursday Prime (8-11pm - 6.1 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49): ABC ran a strong second on Thursday in Live + Same Day Adults 18-49 (1.5/5) to a Big Bang-led CBS (1.7/6), beating original programming on NBC by 67% (0.9/3) and Fox by 88% (0.8/3). ABC is projected to once again lead the night in the Live + 3 Day ratings once that data is released on Tuesday. In fact ABC has emerged as Thursday's top-rated network in L+3 Adults 18-49 on 9 of the last 10 weeks. ABC's Grey's Anatomy was Thursday's #2 TV show in Adults 18-49, behind only CBS' The Big Bang Theory. In addition, Grey's and Scandal were Thursday's Top 2 dramas and The Catch finished well ahead of NBC's Game of Silence in the 10pm hour.

Grey's Anatomy (8-9pm - 7.6 million and 2.0/8 in AD18-49): From 8-9pm, ABC's Grey's Anatomy towered over its drama competition among Adults 18-49 (2.0/8), more than doubling Fox's Bones (+150% - 0.8/3). Grey's moved into the #1 position at 8:30pm and beat CBS' Big Bang-fueled The Odd Couple by 18% (2.0/7 vs.1.7/6).

Scandal (9-10pm - 6.0 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49): Taking second during the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's Scandal beat NBC's The Blacklist by 15% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 vs. 1.3/4) and Fox's American Grit by 114% (0.7/2). The ABC drama won the hour in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

The Catch (10-11pm - 4.6 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49): At 10pm, ABC's The Catch beat NBC's Game of Silence by 29% in Adults 18-49 (0.9/3 vs. 0.7/2) and is poised to win the hour in L+3. Live + 3 Day Ratings for Last Thursday (4/14/16): Last Thursday, ABC's The Catch was the biggest gainer at 10pm on broadcast in both Total Viewers (+2.1 million viewers) and Adults 18-49 (+60%), posting much larger L+3 lifts than CBS' Rush Hour (+953k and +22%, respectively) and NBC's Game of Silence debut (+1.4 million and +38%, respectively). After 3 days of TV playback, The Catch shot up to a 1.6 Adult 18-49 rating, increasing its advantage over Rush Hour to 5-tenths of a rating point (1.1 rating) and over Game of Silence to 5-tenths (1.1 rating) versus a 1-tenth and 2-tenths lead, respectively, in L+SD.

Quick Take for Thursday, April 21, 2016 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Is Once Again Poised to Win Thursday in Live + 3 Day Adults 18-49

'Grey's' More than Doubles Its 8 p.m. Drama Competition in Adults 18-49

'Scandal' Wins Its Hour Among Adults 18-34 and Key Women

ABC's 'The Catch' Beats NBC's 'Game of Silence' by 29% in Adults 18-49

Thursday (4/21/16) - ABC Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections With Multiplatform + 35 Days

"Grey's": L3 = 10.3 million/3.1 rating, L7 = 10.9 million/3.4 rating and MP+35 = 4.7 rating

"Scandal": L3 = 8.5 million/2.5 rating, L7 = 9.1 million/2.6 rating and MP+35 = 3.6 rating

"The Catch": L3 = 6.6 million/1.5 rating and L7 = 7.0 million/1.6 rating

ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.1 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49):

ABC ran a strong second on Thursday in Live + Same Day Adults 18-49 (1.5/5) to a "Big Bang"-led CBS (1.7/6), beating original programming on NBC by 67% (0.9/3) and Fox by 88% (0.8/3). ABC is projected to once again lead the night in the Live + 3 Day ratings once that data is released on Tuesday. In fact, ABC has emerged as Thursday's top-rated network in L+3 with Adults 18-49 on 9 of the last 10 weeks. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" was Thursday's No. 2 TV show in Adults 18-49, behind only CBS' "The Big Bang Theory." In addition, "Grey's" and "Scandal" were Thursday's Top 2 dramas, and "The Catch" finished well ahead of NBC's "Game of Silence" in the 10:00 p.m. hour.

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 7.6 million and 2.0/8 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" towered over its drama competition among Adults 18-49 (2.0/8), more than doubling Fox's "Bones" (+150% - 0.8/3). "Grey's" moved into the No. 1 position at 8:30 p.m. and beat CBS' "Big Bang"-fueled "The Odd Couple" by 18% (2.0/7 vs.1.7/6).

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 6.0 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49):

Taking second during the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Scandal" beat NBC's "The Blacklist" by 15% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 vs. 1.3/4) and Fox's "American Grit" by 114% (0.7/2). The ABC drama won the hour in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

"The Catch" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.6 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):

At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "The Catch" beat NBC's "Game of Silence" by 29% in Adults 18-49 (0.9/3 vs. 0.7/2) and is poised to win the hour in L+3. Live + 3 Day Ratings for Last Thursday (4/14/16): Last Thursday, ABC's "The Catch" was the biggest gainer at 10:00 p.m. on broadcast in both Total Viewers (+2.1 million viewers) and Adults 18-49 (+60%), posting much larger L+3 lifts than CBS' "Rush Hour" (+953k and +22%, respectively) and NBC's "Game of Silence" debut (+1.4 million and +38%, respectively). After 3 days of TV playback, "The Catch" shot up to a 1.6 Adult 18-49 rating, increasing its advantage over "Rush Hour" to 5-tenths of a rating point (1.1 rating) and over "Game of Silence" to 5-tenths (1.1 rating) versus a 1-tenth and 2-tenths lead, respectively, in L+SD.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on 2015-16 season averages for originals (excluding the premiere).

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

New Series: Based on similar series.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 48% 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 Nielsen measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 4/21/16, unless otherwise specified.