via press release:
ABC is TV’s No. 1 Network on Thursday in Adults 18-49, Leading its
Regular Competition on the Night for 8 of 8 Thursdays This Season
Freshman “FlashForward” Takes 2nd to Slot-Veteran “Survivor” in Adults 18-34
Dominating the 9pm Hour in Adults 18-49, “Grey’s Anatomy” Qualifies
As Thursday’s No. 1 TV Series in Adults 18-49 for the 8th Straight Week
Turning in a Best-Since-Premiere Performance, “Private Practice” is
No. 1 at 10pm in Adults 18-49, Improving the Hour by 50% Year to Year
Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)
Growing week to week, ABC finished as Thursday’s No. 1 network among Adults 18-49 (4.0/10) for the 2nd week in a row. In fact ABC has been the highest-rated network on the evening against regular competition on 8 of 8 Thursdays this season.
- ABC was up week to week in both Total Viewers (+4% - 11.0 million vs. 10.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+8% - 4.0/10 vs. 3.7/10).
- Surging 11% from the year-ago November Sweep Thursday in Adults 18-49 (3.6/9 on 11/13/08), ABC registered year-to-year gains on the evening for the 4th time in 5 weeks.
“FlashForward” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
ABC freshman “FlashForward” took second to CBS’ time-slot veteran “Survivor: Samoa” in the 8 o’clock hour among Adults 18-34 (2.3/7-tied). The new ABC drama saw week-to-week increases in Adults 18-34 (+5% - 2.3/7 vs. 2.2/7) and across all key Women demographics: W18-34 (+17% - 2.8/8 vs. 2.4/7), W18-49 (+10% - 3.2/8 vs. 2.9/8) and W25-54 (+3% - 3.8/9 vs. 3.7/9).
- The top gainer overall for any new series this season in DVR playback, “FlashForward” surges over the first-reported numbers by 1.9 million viewers and by 8-tenths of an Adult 18-49 rating point (+24%) from the Live + Same Day Numbers to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.
“Grey’s Anatomy” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” (5.4/13) stood as Thursday’s No. 1 series telecast in Adults 18-49 for the 8th week in a row. Winning the 9 o’clock hour by wide margins, “Grey’s” defeated CBS with the concluding part of its “CSI” cross-over trilogy event by 35% (4.0/10), NBC’s comedy combo “The Office”/”30 Rock” by 54% (3.5/9) and Fox’s “Fringe” by 145% (2.2/5). “Grey’s” was also once again Thursday’s highest-rated show in Adults 18-34 (5.3/15).
- “Grey’s” drew its biggest audience (14.4 million) in 3 weeks and its highest Adult 18-49 number (5.4/13) in 6 weeks – since 10/22/09 and 10/1/09, respectively.
- TV’s most-popular show in DVR playback, “Grey’s Anatomy” jumps over the first-reported numbers by 2.9 million viewers and by an additional 1.4 Adult 18-49 rating points (+24%) from the Live + Same Day Numbers to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.
“Private Practice” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
ABC’s “Private Practice” won the 10 o’clock hour among Adults 18-49 (3.9/11) and Adults 18-34 (3.7/11). In fact the ABC drama has been the No. 1 series in the final hour of Thursday night for 7 weeks running in Adults 18-34 and on 6 of 7 weeks in Adults 18-49.
- “Private Practice” turned in a best-since-premiere Adult 18-49 number (3.9/11) and its largest overall audience (10.2 million) in a month – since 10/1/09 and 10/15/09, respectively.
- Versus the year-ago night (11/13/08), “Private Practice” improved ABC’s delivery in the 10 o’clock hour by 50% in Adults 18-49 (3.9/11 vs. 2.6/7 – original “Life on Mars”).
- Like its lead-in, “Private Practice” sees impressive DVR gains from the first-reported numbers, shooting up by 1.8 million viewers and by 0.9 Adult 18-49 rating points (+23%) from the Live + Same Day Numbers to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.
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 33% currently, from 28% at the same point in 2008. 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: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 11/12/09. DVR Playback = 9/21-10/25/09.
After watching last nights episode of Grey’s my better half and I had a discussion to the effect of how much we liked the actors and characters and how bad we thought the stories were.
I could not stand the Dead Denny and in fact that caused me to start recording Grey’s not so that I could fast forward through the commercials but so that I could fast forward through the stupid plot lines.
Or the stupid icicle. I really think the writing on this show sucks!
Eg Izzy donates 8 millions bucks and has to threaten to get a surgery. Or how these surgeons are so poor they have to room together.
All I can say is that the writes should be glad that they have such talented cast to keep me watching poor stories.
Credit to Private Practice, that was the best episode of the season so far, promoted with great humor by Kate Walsh on Letterman this week, and as Addison she delivered an Emmy-worthy performance. Hope the show continues in this vein.
It’s obvious last nights increase is due to Katherine Heigls return. Without her the show hits all time lows. ABC will try really hard to keep her, but unfortunately (fortunately for her), this Diva has been lobbying to try to get off since Season 4. The show will sink once her contract expires next year.
Sam, Grey’s was up 6% last night. And while up is better than down, if that’s all her appearance did, I don’t think it was that big a deal.
If a 6% increase is all it needs to keep Desperate Housewives behind, then believe me that’s more valuable than anything. ABC would much rather have Grey’s at #1 than DH because right now good ratings is about all Grey’s has got going for it, and they boast about the good ratings to try to wash out the negative critical attention.
I watch Grey’s Anatomy despite Katherine Heigl. Can’t stand her and I think the show was better when she was gone.
And again, DH is cleary runner up this year but that’s fine since it’s having a creative boost and the media mostly focuses on that.
This year DH seems to be a media favorite again. I really haven’t heard anything about Grey’s In the buzz department all year long. However, I guess what really matters is ratings right? It would still be good to get that buzz rolling though.
Grey’s Anatomy is hopefully going back to it’s better roots. No more Gizzie or Dead Denny.
I loved the change of pace of the last two eps, focusing on McDreamy and Arizona really helped their characters go.
OH crap, I meant *grow… obviously!
umm, sam, i watch Greys Anatomy, but not for KH, I watch it cuz i like the show. The cast is great up and down the board, not just KH, even though she is good, i think people wood still watch without her.
Thursdays are wonders for abc glad they are Doing great this night
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT greys anatomy is the worst show I have seen in a while I have tried watching it and it just a waste of time and space on the NBC network. I has replace one or two of my favorite shows and for those who work in the nursing field dont need so many shows about it we get enough of that at work let alone steeling it from the shows we actually want to watch. Sorry fans.
@ Mike, you think it’s unrealistic that some of the characters can’t afford their own places? You must not have taken into account that medical students usually leave med school owing a TON of money, and residents/interns aren’t exactly getting rich. Paying off med school can take many years. Of course most of them need/want roommates! Plus a few of the characters who are a bit better off obviously choose to live together because they want to, not because they can’t afford to live separately.
@ Christ, Grey’s airs on ABC, not NBC, so how can it be “a waste of time and space on the NBC network”? And I don’t even understand what you mean about it “steeling” from shows a supposed “we” want to watch.
As for the show itself: Izzie is possibly my favorite character. It was great to see her back last night. Actually, the show has mostly been really good this season. I could do without the annoying Mercy West newbies, though. New characters should have some redeeming characteristics and not just be irritating. It’s not all bad–Arizona is growing on me, and Teddy has potential. Really a good season so far, overall.
Lisa you got the right i am liking this season i like all of the charaters and was happy to have Izzy back as she is beoming my fav actrsse out of the show…. and they all make me laugh