ABC ranked #2 to an Idol-led Fox on the opening night of the February Sweep in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In viewers and young adults, ABC posted its strongest Thursday in 3 weeks.
At 8pm, despite going up against American Idol and CBS’ original comedies (The Big Bang Theory/$#*! My Dad Says), ABC’s Winter Wipeout grew week to week in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%). The ABC unscripted series dominated NBC’s original comedies (Community/Perfect Couples) in the hour, leading by 4.2 million viewers and by 47% in Adults 18-49. Building audience throughout its telecast, Wipeout ranked #2 to Idol at 8:30pm with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34, Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.
Although facing increased competition year to year, Wipeout improved the hour for ABC over the year-ago night by wide margins in viewers (+55%) and young adults (+92%).
On its first original telecast in 3 weeks, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy turned in a dominant victory in Thursday’s 9 o’clock hour among Adults 18-49, qualifying as the #1 series in the slot for its 13th consecutive original telecast this season. In its time period, Grey’s beat out Fox’s Idol-fueled Bones by 27%, NBC’s comedies (The Office/Parks and Recreation) by 35% and CBS’ CSI by 40%.
On its return to first run, ABC’s Grey’s matched its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 number since mid-October – since 10/14/10.
Returning to original for the first time in 4 weeks, ABC’s Private Practice beat out NBC’s comedies (30 Rock/Outsourced) in the 10pm hour by 2.8 million viewers and by 24% in Adults 18-49. In addition, for its 12th straight original telecast this season, the ABC drama stood as the #1 scripted TV show in the 10 o’clock hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49).
(source; ABC)
