ABC's TGIT Crossover Event Ranks No. 1 as HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER Spikes to Season Highs

Live + Same Day Results: ABC Thursday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.6 million and 1.5/6 in AD18-49):

On a night of all-original competition, ABC's TGIT lineup returned for the first time in 3 weeks (since 2/8/18) with crossover-event episodes and caught a "Big Bang"-led CBS for No. 1 on Thursday in Adults 18-49 (1.5/6), while beating out NBC by 50% (1.0/4) and more than doubling FOX (+114% - 0.7/3). Delivering strong TV Playback for its Thursday dramas, ABC is projected to move ahead of CBS and straight out take the night in the Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 ratings. With a crossover event for its Thursday dramas, ABC's TGIT lineup built over its 3-week-ago pre-Olympics delivery among Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+15%).

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," which introduced characters from upcoming "Station 19" (debuting 3/22/18 on ABC from 9:00-11:00 p.m.), ranked as Thursday's No. 1 TV program in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49), and led the Net to win on the evening in all three Nielsen measures. "Grey's" built on its last broadcast in Total Viewers (+3% - 7.5 million vs. 7.3 million) and held exactly even with Adults 18-49 rating (2.0/8).

At 9:00 p.m. during the first hour of the "Scandal"-"HTGAWM" crossover, ABC's "Scandal" ranked No. 1 in its slot with young adults (tie), surging 11% over its last telecast in Total Viewers (5.1 million vs. 4.6 million) and 18% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/5 vs. 1.1/4).

During the second hour at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "How to Get Away with Murder" also finished No. 1 in its time period with Adults 18-49 (tie). "HTGAWM" jumped 29% over its last airing in Total Viewers (4.2 million vs. 3.3 million) and shot up 38% Adults 18-49 (1.1/5 vs. 0.8/3), pulling in its largest audience this season and matching a season best with young adults.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on 2017-18 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.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 3/1/18.

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