ABC's Wednesday Comedy Block Grows Against Playoff Baseball

Some early info on ABC's Wednesday, ahead of the regular press release.

Exhibiting year-to-year improvement on Wednesday for the 3rd consecutive week (despite facing an MLB Playoff game this year), ABC was up over the year-ago night (10/21/09) by 1.0 million viewers and by 14% in Adults 18-49. It was the Net's 3rd time in 3 nights this week to build its overall audience from the same night last year. In addition, ABC's 8-10pm comedy block surged over the same night last year by 1.6 million viewers and by 24% in Adults 18-49.

Scoring its best results since its season opener, ABC's The Middle continued to rank as the 2nd-most-watched TV series in the 8pm half-hour to CBS' Survivor: Nicaragua, widening its lead over NBC's Undercovers to a season-best 2.8 million viewers and 86% in Adults 18-49. The Middle finished #1 in its half-hour with Adults 18-34, tying Survivor for the first time. The sophomore comedy greatly improved its time-period for ABC from the same night last year in viewers (+2.7 million) viewers and young adults (+73%). On average this season, The Middle is up from its own performance at this point last year (when it had the added advantage of airing at 8:30pm, with higher overall viewing levels) in both Total Viewers (+16%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%). Despite facing Fox's post-season Major League Baseball Game, The Middle produced its 3rd-most-watched telecast ever, behind only its two season premieres.

Building its overall audience week to week against the baseball game, Better with You continued to dominate its freshman competition in the half-hour among Adults 18-49, beating NBC's Undercovers by 1.0 million viewers and by 40% in Adults 18-49. The freshman comedy improved its half-hour year to year for ABC in both Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%). Better with You equaled its biggest audience since its series debut in September - since 9/22/10.

Standing as Wednesday's dominant #1 TV show for the 5th week running this season, ABC's Modern Family jumped to the lead in at 9pm, besting second-place CBS' Criminal Minds by 34% in Adults 18-49. Modern Family outdelivered its year-ago performance for the 5th week in a row this season. On average in its sophomore season, Modern Family's numbers are up over the same point last season by 2.4 million viewers and by 29% in Adults 18-49. Modern Family posted the series' 3rd-highest-ever numbers in viewers and young adults.

Building its overall audience for the 3rd week in a row at 9:30pm, Cougar Town attracted its biggest audience since its season opener and generated its 2nd most-watched telecast since January - since 1/20/10. The ABC comedy finished a won its half hour with Women 18-34 for the 3rd week in a row finished #1 in Adults 18-34 for the 2nd week running.

Growing on its return to the 10 o'clock hour, after being pre-empted for an ABC News special the previous week, ABC's The Whole Truth hit the series 2nd highest-ever numbers with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while posting a series-best rating among Men 18-49.

Quick Take for Wednesday, October 20, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Wednesday is Up Year to Year for the 3rd Week in a Row, as its 8-10pm Comedy Block Surges Against Post-Season Major League Baseball Competition

"Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for the 5th Straight Week

Scoring its Best Results Since its Season Opener, "The Middle" Draws the Series' 3rd-Largest Audience and Continues to Pace Well Ahead of its Year-Ago Results

Up Week to Week, "Better with You" Equals its Biggest Audience Since its Debut

Bettering its Year-Ago Results for the 5th Week in a Row, "Modern Family" Generates its 3rd-Biggest Numbers Ever in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

Growing its Overall Audience for the 3rd Straight Week, ABC's "Cougar Town" Continues to Rank No. 1 in its Time Slot with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34

On its Return, ABC's "The Whole Truth" Hits its 2nd-Highest-Ever Numbers In Viewers and Young Adults, While Achieving a Series-High in Men 18-49

Wednesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

Exhibiting year-to-year improvement on Wednesday for the 3rd consecutive week (despite facing an MLB Playoff game this year), ABC was up over the year-ago night (10/21/09) by 1.0 million viewers (7.3 million vs. 6.3 million) and by 14% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/7 vs. 2.2/6). It was the Net's 3rd time in 3 nights this week to build its overall audience from the same night last year.

· In addition, ABC's 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedy block surged over the same night last year by 1.6 million viewers (8.7 million vs. 7.1 million) and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (3.1/9 vs. 2.5/7).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

Scoring its best results since its season opener (on 9/22/10), ABC's "The Middle" continued to rank as the 2nd-most-watched TV series in the 8:00 p.m. half-hour to CBS' "Survivor: Nicaragua," widening its lead over NBC's "Undercovers" to a season-best 2.8 million viewers (8.5 million vs. 5.7 million) and 86% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/8 vs. 1.4/5). "The Middle" finished No. 1 in its half-hour with Adults 18-34 (2.2/7), tying "Survivor" for the first time.

· The sophomore comedy greatly improved its time-period for ABC from the same night last year in viewers (+2.7 million) viewers and young adults (+73%). On average this season, "The Middle" is up from its own performance at this point last year (when it had the added advantage of airing at 8:30 p.m., with higher overall viewing levels) in both Total Viewers (+16%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%).

· Despite facing Fox's post-season Major League Baseball Game, "The Middle" produced its 3rd-most-watched telecast ever, behind only its two season premieres.

"Better with You" (8:30-9:30 p.m.)

Building its overall audience week to week against the baseball game, "Better with You" continued to dominate its freshman competition in the half-hour among Adults 18-49, beating NBC's "Undercovers" by 1.0 million viewers (7.0 million vs. 6.0 million) and by 40% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.5/5).

· The freshman comedy improved its half-hour year to year for ABC in both Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%).

· "Better with You" equaled its biggest audience since its series debut in September - since 9/22/10.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Standing as Wednesday's dominant No. 1 TV show for the 5th week running this season, ABC's "Modern Family" jumped into the lead at 9:00 p.m., besting second-place CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 34% in Adults 18-49 (4.7/13 vs. 3.5/10).

· "Modern Family" outdelivered its year-ago performance for the 5th week in a row this season. On average in its sophomore season, "Modern Family's" numbers are up over the same point last year by 2.4 million viewers and by 29% in Adults 18-49.

· "Modern Family" posted the series' 3rd-highest-ever numbers in viewers (11.9 million) and young adults (4.7/13).

"Cougar Town" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

Building its overall audience for the 3rd week in a row at 9:30pm, ABC's "Cougar Town" attracted its biggest audience (7.5 million) since its season opener and generated its 2nd-most-watched telecast since January - since 1/20/10.

· The ABC comedy won its half hour with Women 18-34 for the 3rd week in a row and finished No. 1 in Adults 18-34 for the 2nd week running.

"The Whole Truth" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Growing on its return to the 10 o'clock hour, after being pre-empted for an ABC News special the previous week, ABC's "The Whole Truth" hit the series' 2nd-highest-ever numbers with Total Viewers (4.6 million-tie) and Adults 18-49 (1.4/4), while posting a series-best rating among Men 18-49.

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 38% currently, from 33% 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 (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 10/20/10.