The alphabet network gives their spin on the ratings for Thursday, November 8, 2012 as they relate to Last Resort, Grey’s Anatomy, and Scandal.

ABC’s “Last Resort” and “Grey’s Anatomy” Return Up After Prior Week’s Preemptions

Early info on ABC’s Thursday, ahead of the regular press release.

Up against big competition during the 8 o’clock hour from NBC’s special The Voice, CBS’ top-rated comedies (The Big Bang Theory/Two and a Half Men) and Fox’s The X Factor Results Show premiere, ABC freshman Last Resort returned after its preemption the prior week with gains of 8% in Adults 18-49 and 25% in Adults 18-34 from two weeks ago. The new show also spiked 25% with Men 18-34 over its last telecast to equal its best number since early October – since 10/11/12.

· One of the biggest percentage gainers via DVR playback for any 8pm show this season, ABC’s Last Resort adds on 2.3 million viewers and shoots up by an impressive 56% (+1.0 rating) in Adults 18-49 from the next-day L+SD numbers to the final L+7 numbers.

· The ABC freshman drama continued to deliver double digit year-over-year growth in its time period. In fact on average, Last Resort is boosting its hour for ABC by 29% in Total Viewers and by 47% in Adults 18-49 over the same point last season with original drama programming.

More than doubling its lead-in among Adults 18-49 (+129%) at 9pm, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy won its hour to register as Thursday’s #1 drama for its 5th straight telecast this season. Leading the 9 o’clock hour by double-digit percentages among Adults 18-49, Grey’s beat out CBS’ Person of Interest by 10%, Fox’s Glee by 33% and NBC’s The Voice-fueled comedies (The Office/Parks and Recreation) by 45%. Jumping in DVR Playback this season, Grey’s builds by 3.5 million viewers and by 1.7 Adult 18-49 rating points from its next-day numbers to its L+7 finals.

· Grey’s grew over its most recent airing two weeks ago by 5% in Total Viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49.

· Season to date, Grey’s Anatomy is up over the same point last year in both viewers (+6%) and young adults (+2%).

ABC’s Scandal once again posted a close second-place finish to CBS’ Elementary in the 10 o’clock hour (pacing within 2-tenths of a rating point in Adults 18-49), while running way ahead of NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams in Total Viewers (+39%) and Adults 18-49 (+82%). Additionally, Scandal continued to beat out Elementary to stand as the #1 scripted TV show in its slot in Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Posting large increases from DVR playback, on average this season the ABC 10 o’clock drama surges by 2.4 million viewers and by 40% in Adults 18-49 over its first-reported L+SD numbers to its Live + 7 Day results.

· Scandal tied its 2nd-strongest Adult 18-49 rating this season. In addition, the show matched a season high with Women 18-49, equaling the series 2nd-highest number ever.

Quick Take for Thursday, November 8, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC’s “Last Resort” Returns Up After its Preemption Among Young Adults And Continues to Deliver Strong Year-Over-Year Time-Period Growth for ABC

Building Over its Most-Recent Airing, ABC’s “Grey’s” Wins the 9pm Hour and Stands as Thursday’s No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49 for its 5th Straight Broadcast

ABC’s “Scandal” Finishes a Close 2nd to “Elementary” in Adults 18-49 and Leads With Adults 18-34, while Equaling the Series’ 2nd-Best-Ever Women 18-49 Rating

“Last Resort” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Up against big competition during the 8 o’clock hour from NBC’s special “The Voice,” CBS’ top-rated comedies (“The Big Bang Theory”/”Two and a Half Men”) and Fox’s premiere of “The X Factor Results Show,” ABC freshman “Last Resort” returned after its preemption the prior week with gains of 8% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.3/4) and 25% in Adults 18-34 (1.0/3 vs. 0.8/3) from two weeks ago. The new show also spiked 25% with Men 18-34 over its last telecast to equal its best number since early October � since 10/11/12.

· One of the biggest percentage gainers via DVR playback for any 8:00 p.m. show this season, ABC’s “Last Resort” adds on 2.3 million viewers and shoots up by an impressive 56% (+1.0 rating) in Adults 18-49 from the next-day L+SD numbers to the final L+7 numbers.

· The ABC freshman drama continued to deliver double-digit year-over-year growth in its time period. In fact on average “Last Resort” is boosting its hour for ABC by 29% in Total Viewers and by 47% in Adults 18-49 over the same point last season with original drama programming.

“Grey’s Anatomy” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

More than doubling its lead-in among Adults 18-49 (+129%) at 9:00 p.m., ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” won its hour and registered as Thursday’s No. 1 drama for its 5th straight telecast this season. Leading the 9 o’clock hour by double-digit percentages among Adults 18-49, “Grey’s” (3.2/8) beat out CBS’ “Person of Interest” by 10% (2.9/7), Fox’s “Glee” by 33% (2.4/6) and NBC’s “The Voice”-fueled comedies (“The Office”/”Parks and Recreation”) by 45% (2.2/6). Jumping in DVR Playback this season, “Grey’s” builds by 3.5 million viewers and by 1.7 Adult 18-49 rating points from its next-day numbers to its L+7 finals.

· “Grey’s” grew over its most recent airing two weeks ago by 5% in Total Viewers (9.2 million vs. 8.8 million) and by 7% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/8 vs. 3.0/8).

· Season to date “Grey’s Anatomy” is up over the same point last year in both viewers (+6%) and young adults (+2%).

“Scandal” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC’s “Scandal” once again posted a close 2nd-place finish to CBS’ “Elementary” in the 10 o’clock hour in Adults 18-49 (pacing within 2-tenths of a rating point), while running way ahead of NBC’s “Rock Center with Brian Williams” in Total Viewers (+39% – 6.1 million vs. 4.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+82% – 2.0/5 vs. 1.1/3). Additionally, “Scandal” continued to beat out “Elementary” to stand as the No. 1 scripted TV show in its slot in Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Posting large increases from DVR playback, on average this season the ABC 10 o’clock drama surges by 2.4 million viewers and by 40% in Adults 18-49 over its first-reported L+SD numbers to its Live + 7 Day results.

· “Scandal” tied its 2nd-strongest Adult 18-49 rating this season. In addition, the show matched a season high with Women 18-49, equaling the series’ 2nd-highest number ever.

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 46% currently, from 43% at the same point in 2011. 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 Program Ratings, 11/08/12.