ABC's "Lost" Season 6 Opener Delivers Big Increases in DVR Playback, the Series' Biggest-Ever Premiere Jump of 2.2 Million Viewers and 1.1 Rating Point

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" is Once Again TV' Biggest Gainer in the DVR Numbers, while ABC's "Modern Family" is the Top Freshman Gainer

"Grey's," "Lost" and "Modern Family" Each Surge by Over 2 Million Viewers

Week No. 20: Live + 7 Day Ratings:
Based on Nielsen's Live + 7 Day information for the week of February 1, 2010, which included the first round of data for the Season 6 of "Lost," the 6th-year ABC drama premiere picked up an additional 2.2 million viewers (12.1 million to 14.3 million) and 1.1 Adult 18-49 rating points (5.6 rating to 6.7 rating) through DVR playback from its first-reported overnight numbers.  In fact in terms of actual gains and percentage gains, it was the biggest-ever increase for a "Lost" season opener through DVR playback.  In the finalized numbers, "Lost" stood as the week's No. 1 scripted TV show with Adults 18-49.

During the week, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" was once again TV's most-played-back show, while "Lost," "Modern Family" and "Private Practice" all saw substantial gains in the finalized DVR playback averages.

* ABC claimed 3 of TV's Top 8 biggest overall gainers, with each show jumping by more than 2 million viewers: "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 1 (+2.758 million), "Lost" - No. 5 (+2.207 million) and "Modern Family" - No. 8 (+2.164 million - biggest freshman gainer).

* Among Adults 18-49, ABC aired 4 of the Top 10 TV series with the biggest rating increases: "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 1 (+1.4 rating points/+31%), "Lost" - No. 4 (+1.1 rating/+20%), "Modern Family" - No. 4 (+1.1 rating/+28% - biggest freshman gainer) and "Private Practice" - No. 10 (+0.8 rating/+24%).

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 36% currently, from 30% 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 (National Live+7 Day Program Ratings vs. Live + Same Day Program Ratings), week of 2/2/10.