ABC's SCANDAL Shoots to Top of the 9pm Hour & Grows Year to Year

ABC won its 2nd straight Thursday of the November Sweep in Adults 18-49, beating runner-up CBS by 17% (2.7/8 vs. 2.3/7). In addition, the Net more than doubled the young adult results for NBC (+108% - 1.3/4) and FOX (+170% - 1.0/3). ABC was up week to week in viewers (+11%) and young adults (+8%).

ABC's "Scandal" (2.9/9), "How to Get Away with Murder" (2.8/9) and "Grey's" (2.4/7) stood as Thursday's Top 3 dramas in Adults 18-49 (over CBS' "Elementary," NBC's "Parenthood" and Fox's "Bones" and "Gracepoint"). "Scandal" and "HTGAWM" trailed only CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" as the highest-rated shows of the night and are once again tracking as the week's top-rated broadcast dramas in Adults 18-49.

The Net built sharply from the year-ago November Sweep Thursday (7.0 million and 2.1/6 on 11/7/13), spiking 29% in viewers and 29% in young adults. And season to date, ABC's Thursday is up by double digits from the same point last year in Total Viewers (+29%) and Adults 18-49 (+21%) for its best season start on the night in 5 years - since the comparable weeks of the 2009-10 season.

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 8.0 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):
At 8:00 p.m., despite facing "Big Bang Theory" for the first time, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" returned from the prior week's pre-emption steady in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 2.5/8). "Grey's" dominated its drama competition in THE HOUR (Fox's "Bones") by 2.4 million viewers (8.0 million vs. 5.6 million) and by 85% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 1.3/4).

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 9.8 million and 2.9/9 in AD18-49):
At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Scandal" shot to the top of its hour in Adults 18-49 (2.9/9), outdelivering CBS' comedies by 45% ("Two and a Half Men"/"The McCarthys" = 2.0/6), NBC's comedies by 190% ("Bad Judge"/"A to Z" = 1.0/3) and Fox's "Gracepoint" by 314% (0.7/2).

Versus its Fast Affiliate numbers, the ABC drama gained 7% in viewers week to week (9.8 million vs. 9.2 million) and held steady in Adults (2.9/9 vs. 3.0/9), while building on its own year-ago telecast at 10:00 p.m. (8.7 million and 2.8/8 on 11/7/13) in viewers (+13%) and young adults (+4%).

"How to Get Away with Murder" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.2 million and 2.8/9 in AD18-49):
From 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's "How to Get Away with Murder" (2.8/9) equaled its combined drama competition in Adults 18-49, surpassing CBS' "Elementary" by 100% (1.4/4) and NBC's "Parenthood" by 100% (1.4/5). The new ABC drama was the most-watched TV show overall in the slot for the 2nd week running (9.2 million). "Murder" grew week to week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

On average, "HTGAWM" is both the season's No. 1 broadcast drama and top-rated new series with Adults 18-49.

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 49% currently, from 48% at the same point in 2013. 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.

Projections Rationale:
Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2013-14 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, 11/06/14.

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