ABC'S SCANDAL Scores a Season High in Adult Viewers

Returning strong after the prior week's Thanksgiving preemption, ABC's GREY'S ANATOMY tripled its lead-in among Adults 18-49 at 9:00 p.m. (+200% over LAST RESORT) to win in its hour and stand as Thursday's No. 1 drama for its 7th straight telecast this season. During the 9'clock hour among young adults, ABC's GREY'S ANATOMY (3.0/8) beat out CBS' PERSON OF INTEREST by 3% (2.9/7), Fox's GLEE by 36% (2.2/6) and NBC's comedies by 88% (1.6/4 - THE OFFICE/PARKS AND RECREATION). In addition, the ABC drama once again dominated the hour with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

* Building its Women 18-34 audience for its 2nd consecutive telecast, GREY'S posted its highest rating in 5 weeks - since 10/18/12.

SCANDAL (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
ABC's SCANDAL caught CBS' ELEMENTARY to rank No. 1 in the 10 o'clock hour with Adults 18-49 (2.2/6), while leading by wide margins over NBC's ROCK CENTER WITH BrIan Williams in Total Viewers (+97% - 6.7 million vs. 3.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+144% - 2.2/6 vs. 0.9/2). Additionally, SCANDALS led by double to triple digits over ELEMENTARY with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

* Surging over its most recent telecast 2 weeks ago in viewers (+12%) and young adults (+10%), SCANDAL drew its 2nd-largest audience of the season and posted a new season high in Adults 18-49. In addition the show spiked over its last telecast by 20% in Adults 18-34 and by 24% in Women 18-34, achieving new series highs on both counts.

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 46% currently, from 43% at the same point in 2011. 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.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 11/29/12.

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