ABC's Scrubs Opens as Tuesday's #1 TV Show with Hard-to-Reach Men 18-34

via ABC press release:

December 2, 2009

Quick Take for Tuesday, December 1, 2009

(Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Opposite Established Competition, ABC’s “Scrubs” Opener Surges from its Lead

With Young Adults and Wins its Half-Hour Over NBC’s “Loser” in Men 18-34

Building on its Lead-in Among Key Demos, “Scrubs” at 9:30pm Wins by

28% in Men 18-34 and Stands as the Night’s No. 1 TV Show with Young Men

At 9:30pm, “Scrubs” Matches the Series’ Highest-Rated Telecast

In Men 18-34 and Men 18-49 Since its ABC Premiere in January 2008

“Scrubs” (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Surging from its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+33% - 2.0/5 vs. 1.5/4) against stiff established competition, ABC’s season premiere of “Scrubs” finished No. 1 in its half-hour among hard-to-reach Men 18-34, besting second-place NBC’s “Biggest Loser” by 11% (2.1/7 vs. 1.9/6). In addition, the ABC comedy earned second place in the half-hour with Men 18-49 (2.0/6).

“Scrubs” (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

Building on its lead-in among Adults 18-34 and key Men (M18-34/M18-49), a second episode of “Scrubs” also won its half-hour among hard-to-reach Men 18-34, defeating NBC’s “Loser” by an even wider margin of 28% (2.3/7 vs. 1.8/6).  In fact ABC’s back-to-back episodes of “Scrubs” finished as the Top 2 TV shows on Tuesday night with Men 18-34.

• At 9:30 p.m. among Men 18-49 (2.3/7) and Men 18-49 (2.1/6), “Scrubs” matched the series’ highest-rated telecast since its ABC premiere on January 6, 2009.  

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 more than 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), 12/1/09.