From 8-9pm opposite CBS’ comedies (The Big Bang Theory/Rob) and Fox’s American Idol, ABC’s Winter Wipeout continued to outdraw NBC’s comedies in the hour, beating the 30 Rock/Parks and Recreation combo by 1.5 million viewers. The ABC unscripted series gained viewers and young adults from its first half-hour to its second half-hour.
More than doubling its lead-in (+107%) against the second half of Fox’s 2-hour Idol, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy stood as the #1 scripted show in the 9 o’clock hour among Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS’ Person of Interest by 7% and NBC’s comedies (The Office/Up All Night) by 63%.
* ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy qualified as Thursday’s #1 drama in the key young adult sales demographic for its 14th straight original telecast this season.
During the 10 o’clock hour in a crossover episode with Grey’s Anatomy, ABC’s Private Practice delivered best-of-season lead-in retention (84%) to finish in a virtual tie for #1 with CBS’ The Mentalist among Adults 18-49 (tied in audience share). In fact, Private Practice posted its strongest lead-in retention coming out of an original Grey’s since November 2010 – since 11/4/10. Leading its CBS drama competition among younger viewers, ABC’s Private Practice defeated The Mentalist by 36% in Adults 18-34.
* Surging week to week in Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 18-49 (+18%), ABC’s Private Practice marked 6-week highs on both Nielsen measures – since 1/5/12.
* The ABC drama grew over its year-ago telecast (on 2/17/11) in both viewers (+6%) and young adults (+13%)
(Source: ABC)
