Grey's Anatomy Ratings Boosted By Later Viewing

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More light is being shed on ratings for the week of September 22 — widely considered to be the launch of this TV season — now that Live +7 Nielsen numbers are in.

Whereas the fast nationals reported every morning capture live viewing plus same-night DVR playback, Live +7 includes any recorded show watched up to a week later.

ABC can now tout that Grey's Anatomy's Season Five premiere enjoyed the largest gain of any show, adding 2.7 million total viewers once the Live +7 data is counted.

That brings the the hit drama's premiere audience to 21.2 million.

With DVR marketplace penetration now at 20 percent (up 8 percent year-over-year), the Grey's Anatomy playback increase was up 29 percent from last season.

Chief in Charge

For perspective, ABC saw a total of four shows (Grey's, Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal and Brothers & Sisters) gain a million or more viewers, while CBS had five.

House and Sarah Connor are giving Fox its greatest gains in DVR playback. For House, that means an increase of two million-plus. NBC's biggest gains came from Heroes.

The CW, meanwhile, points out that 90210 gains nearly a full rating point in the netlet's "sweet spot" of women 18-34, while Gossip Girl also picks up some more viewers.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.

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Grey's Anatomy Quotes

COOPER: "It's wrong?"
NAOMI: "You need to meet a grown up. You need to date someone your own age."
VIOLET: "Someone without a porny internet name and perhaps no criminal past."
NAOMI: "A nice girl."
VIOLET: "A reliable girl."
NAOMI: "Someone who you can have a relationship with."
VIOLET: "You’re a respected doctor."
NAOMI: "Go out in the real world. Meet a woman your own age and go out."
VIOLET: "Be a man."

ADDISON: "You work with your ex-husband in a shrine for your ex-husband."
NAOMI: "It’s actually a good book. And we're friends. And we stayed friends after we divorced. It’s very healthy. We're healthy."
ADDISON: "What happened between you and Sam?"
NAOMI: "Addison, you and I were close in med school, but it was a long time ago."
ADDISON: "Oh, Naomi. Come on. You can’t stay mad at me forever. I know you."