ABC Wins the Opening Evening of the 2010 February Sweep in Adults 18-49

via press release:

ABC Wins the Opening Evening of the 2010 February Sweep in

Adults 18-49, Ranking No. 1 on Thursday for the 5th Time in 6 Weeks

Towering Over its 9pm Competitors in Adults 18-49, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy”

Stands as Thursday’s No. 1 TV Series for its 12th Consecutive Original Telecast

“Private Practice” is No. 1 in its Slot with Adults 18-49 for its 4th Straight

Original Airing and Beats CBS and NBC Combined in the Hour in Adults 18-34

Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC won the opening night of the 2010 February Sweep in Adults 18-49 (3.1/8).   It was the 5th time in 6 weeks for the Net to rank No. 1 on the night in the key young Adult sales demo, and the 3rd time in the last 4 February Sweeps to top the opening evening.

“Grey’s Anatomy” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Thursday’s No. 1 TV show among Adults 18-49, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” (4.5/12) dominated its time slot and stood as the top-rated series on the night for its 12th consecutive original airing this season. Winning the 9 o’clock hour by wide margins over all-original competition, “Grey’s” (4.5/12) outdelivered NBC’s “The Office”/”30 Rock” combo by 32% (3.4/9), CBS’ “CSI” by 41% (3.2/8) and Fox’s “Fringe” by 73% (2.6/7).  “Grey’s” was up over its most-recent original airing with Women 18-34.

“Private Practice” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC’s “Private Practice” stood as the No. 1 TV show in Thursday’s 10 o’clock hour for its 4th straight original telecast in Adults 18-49 (3.4/8).   The ABC sophomore drama beat the combined delivery of CBS (“The Mentalist”) and NBC (“Jay Leno”) in the slot with Adults 18-34 for its 3rd consecutive original airing (3.3/10 vs. 2.9/9 – CBS and NBC combined).  “Private Practice” grew from its most-recent original telecast with key Men (M18-34/M18-49).

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 35% currently, from 29% at the same point in 2009.  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), 2/4/10.