ABC Builds its Thursday Numbers Year to Year in Viewers and Young Adults

Despite facing increased competition on the night from an "Idol"-driven Fox this year, ABC grew its Thursday numbers year to year in viewers (+4% - 7.7 million vs. 7.4 million) and young adults (+8% - 2.7/8 vs. 2.5/7) over the same night last year (2/18/10) with all-original programming.

"Wipeout" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

In the 8 o'clock hour, opposite Fox's "American Idol" and CBS' original comedies ("The Big Bang Theory"/"$#*! My Dad Says"), ABC's Winter "Wipeout" (6.2 million and 1.9/6) beat out NBC's original comedies ("Community"/"Perfect Couples" = 3.6 million and 1.6/5) by 2.6 million viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49. The broad-appealing ABC unscripted series ranked No. 2 against its broadcast competition in the hour with Kids 2-11 (2.2/8), trailing only "Idol."

· Although facing heightened competition from "Idol" in the time period this year, "Wipeout" continued to improve the hour for ABC by substantial margins, surging from the year-ago night in viewers (+44%) and young adults (+73%).

· Season to date, ABC's "Wipeout" is the No. 1 TV show on the major networks in terms of Family Coviewing, as 32% of its Adult 18-49 audience watches with Teens 12-17 or Kids 2-11.

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" jumped into the lead of Thursday's 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49, registering as the No. 1 series in the slot for its 15th consecutive first-run broadcast this season. In its time period, "Grey's" (3.7/10) outdelivered Fox's "Idol"-fueled "Bones" by 12% (3.3/9), CBS' "CSI" by 28% (2.9/8) and NBC's comedies ("The Office"/"Parks and Recreation") by 32% (2.8/8). "Grey's" finished as Thursday's No. 1 scripted TV show for the 3rd week running in the key young adult sales demographic (tie).

"Private Practice" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Private Practice" (6.9 million and 2.4/7) held big advantages over NBC's comedies ("30 Rock"/"Outsourced" = 3.6 million and 1.8/5) in the 10 o'clock hour, leading by 3.3 million viewers and by 33% in Adults 18-49. In addition, for its 14th straight original airing this season, the ABC drama qualified as the No. 1 scripted TV show in its hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

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 39% currently, from 35% at the same point in 2010. 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.

 

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