HDTV Ratings: May 17

Last night’s HD season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy stitched up the competition by easily winning its slot opposite TV3’s NCIS: Los Angeles and TV One’s Undercover Boss.

It was most popular with TV2’s target audience, 18-39 year-olds (15.2%), and household shoppers with kids (18.3%), but also was strong in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos (13.5%).

The best the HD NCIS spin-off could muster was 8.8% of HHS/kids.

Its new HD lead-in, Australian Federal Police, started well, with 9.3% of 25-54 year-olds, 7.9% of 18-49 year-olds and 8.5% of HHS/kids – although in all of these demos it was out-gunned by TV2’s Hell’s Kitchen.

The latter also drew twice as many HHS/kids as the HD season premiere of What’s Really In Our Food and was three-to-four points ahead in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos.

The night’s other HD newcomer, Private Practice, comfortably won its slot, with ratings of 10%-13.4% in the key demos but the night’s highest HD ratings were recorded by that other medics staple, Shortland Street, which was 17%-plus in the key demos.