‘9-1-1: Nashville’ Boosts Strong Premiere Performance for ABC’s Thursday Night Dramas Alongside ‘9-1-1’ & ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

ABC's Thursday night dramas are currently on a break until the new year, yet the network continues to witness strong performance from the fall premieres of 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, and Greys Anatomy. Across a 35-day tracking period, all three series secured spots among the Top 10 broadcast programs within the 18-49 age demographic, according to Nielsens Big Data + Panel metrics.

The newest installment in the 9-1-1 franchise, 9-1-1: Nashville, emerged as the top-performing new series among the key demographic. Its series premiere drew 19.29 million cross-platform viewers over 35 days, representing a 414% increase from the initial live plus same-day audience of 3.75 million. Excluding encore airings, the premiere still attracted a strong 10.44 million total viewers, with a 2.15 rating among adults 18-49.

These numbers place Nashville on par with its predecessor, the flagship 9-1-1, which remains a strong performer in its ninth season. The Season 9 premiere of 9-1-1 recorded 10.46 million total cross-platform viewers and a 2.17 rating among adults 18-49 after 35 days, reflecting a 148% gain over the same-day audience of 4.22 million. While up from the Season 8 finales 8.98 million viewers over the same period, it falls slightly short of the previous seasons premiere, which neared 10 million viewers within a week of its initial broadcast.

Meanwhile, Greys Anatomy, now in its 21st season, continues to maintain a solid viewership. Its Season 21 premiere amassed 7.4 million cross-platform viewers within 35 days, the highest audience since the Season 20 premiere, and an impressive 184% increase from the 2.61 million who watched live plus same-day.

All three dramas are scheduled to return with their midseason premieres on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Author: Zoe Harrison