ABC takes no. 2 on season-premiere Thursday with its best number in a year

With an encore of "S.H.I.E.L.D." and the "Grey's Anatomy" premiere, ABC finished No. 2 on season-premiere Thursday in viewers and young adults, defeating Fox (5.8 million and 2.0/6) and NBC (5.3 million and 1.7/5). The 10th season, two-hour premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" was Thursday's No. 1 drama in Adults 18-49 (3.4/9), outdelivering Fox's "Glee" (by 70 percent), CBS' "Elementary" (by 62 percent) and NBC's "Parenthood" (by 113 percent). "Grey's" opened ahead of its May finale in viewers and young adults.

ABC posted its highest rated Thursday with series programming in one year - since 9/27/12.

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." encore at 8 p.m. drew 5.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49, gaining additional exposure with its Thursday replay. Through two telecasts, ABC's debut episode of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." has delivered a combined 17.3 million viewers and a 6.1/18 in Adults 18-49. The ABC repeat drama drew 1.9 million more viewers in the hour than NBC's "Parks and Recreation" premiere and also led by 8 percent in Adults 18-49 (3.3 million and 1.3/4).

The "Grey's Anatomy" season 10 premiere (9 p.m., 9.3 million and 3.4/9 in AD18-49) was up over its May finale (9.0 million and 3.1/9 on 5/16/13) by 3 percent in Total Viewers and by 10 percent in Adults 18-49, with its largest audience since March (3/21/13), and its highest young adult number since October (10/4/12). The ABC drama won its two-hour time period by 21 percent over runner-up CBS (3.4/9 vs. 2.8/8).

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 48 percent currently, from 45 percent at the same point in 2012. 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, 09/26/13.