ABC's "Modern Family" Tops the World Series for the 2nd Straight Year in Adults 18-49

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

Opposite the 2011 World Series Game 1 on Fox, ABC finished #2 on Wednesday night among Adults 18-49, while ranking #1 across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). For the 4th straight week this season, as Modern Family outdelivered the World Series, ABC aired Wednesday's #1 TV show. In fact it was the 2nd year in a row for the ABC hit comedy to beat out Game 1 of the World Series in the key young adult sales demo.

· The Net continued to produce improved year-over-year returns on the evening, jumping over the year-ago Wednesday in viewers (+22%) and young adults (+32%) for the 5th consecutive week this season.

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle dominated its comedy competition in the half-hour, defeating NBC's Up All Night by 3.4 million viewers and by 38% in Adults 18-49. In addition, The Middle won its half-hour over the World Series with Women 18-49, while qualifying as the #1 regular program in its slot with Adults 18-34 and Men 18-34. The ABC comedy once again registered as the time slot's top-rated broadcast series with Teens 12-17.

· Opposite World Series competition, The Middle grew week to week with Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, Women 18-49 (2nd best of season) and Women 25-54 (season high).

· Rising over its year-ago performance for the 5th straight broadcast this season, The Middle grew over the same night last year by 6% in viewers and by 12% in young adults.

Increasing from its Adult 18-49 lead-in for the 4th time in as many telecasts (+7%) at 8:30pm, ABC's Suburgatory topped the World Series in the half-hour with Women 18-49, beat its CBS and NBC competition with Adults 18-34 and stood as the #1 broadcast program with Teens 12-17.

· Despite facing the Fall Classic, Suburgatory held 100% of its Adult 18-49 audience week to week, while hitting series highs with key Men (M18-49/M25-54).

· Suburgatory once again generated substantial improvement for the Net over the year-ago time period occupant (Better with You) in viewers (+29%) and young adults (+48%).

Building on its lead-in at 9pm to take first place in its slot with Adults 18-49 over the World Series (+40%) and CBS' Criminal Minds (+47%), ABC's Modern Family registered as the evening's #1 TV program for the 5th week running this season. In fact the ABC comedy won its slot over the World Series across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

· Up year to year for the 5th consecutive telecast this season, Modern Family improved over its year-ago telecast by 7% in viewers and by 19% with young adults.

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's sophomore Happy Endings stood as the #1 series in its slot for the 3rd week running in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. The ABC comedy was also the highest-rated series in its time period with hard-to-reach Men 18-34.

· ABC's Happy Endings hit series highs with Men 18-34 and Men 18-49.

Once again gaining on its Total Viewer lead-in (+1.0 million) during the 10 o'clock hour against established dramas on both CBS (CSI) and NBC (L&O: SVU), ABC's freshman drama Revenge ran neck-and-neck with CSI among Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1-tenth and tied in share) and easily beat out Law & Order: SVU (+19%). In addition, Revenge was the #1 series in the hour for its 5th consecutive airing with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, while winning its hour outright over the World Series with Women 18-49 and Women 25-54.

· For the new series' 5th straight telecast, Revenge produced enormous time-period improvement for ABC, surging over the year-ago night in viewers (+78%) and young adults (+92%). In fact, Revenge stands as ABC's most-watched series in Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour in more than 4 years - since Lost during the 2006-07 TV Season.

Quick Take for Wednesday, October 19, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Ratings)

ABC's Wednesday Numbers Surge Year to Year Against the World Series

Continuing to Increase its Numbers Year to Year, "The Middle" Overpowers NBC's "Up All Night" at 8pm Among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

Building on its Adult 18-49 Lead-in for the New Series' 4th Straight Airing, "Suburgatory" Generates Substantial Time Period Improvement for ABC

Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for the 5th Week Running in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Modern Family" Beats Out Game 1 of the World Series for the 2nd Year in a Row

Hitting Series Highs in Key Men Against the World Series, ABC's "Happy Endings" Ranks as the No. 1 Series in its Time Slot for the 3rd Week Running in Adults 18-34

Growing Wednesday's 10pm Hour Year to Year by Huge Margins, ABC's "Revenge" Finishes as the No. 1 Series in its Slot for the 5th Straight Week with Adults 18-34

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

Opposite the 2011 World Series Game 1 on Fox, ABC finished No. 2 on Wednesday night among Adults 18-49 (3.3/9-tie), while ranking No. 1 across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). For the 4th straight week this season, as "Modern Family" outdelivered the World Series, ABC aired Wednesday's No. 1 TV show. In fact it was the 2nd year in a row for the ABC hit comedy to beat out Game 1 of the World Series in the key young adult sales demo.

· The Net continued to produce improved year-over-year returns on the evening, jumping over the year-ago Wednesday (10/20/10) in viewers (+22% - 8.9 million vs. 7.3 million) and young adults (+32% - 3.3/9 vs. 2.5/7) for the 5th consecutive week this season.

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" dominated its comedy competition in the half-hour, defeating NBC's "Up All Night" by 3.4 million viewers (9.0 million vs. 5.6 million) and by 38% in Adults 18-49 (2.9/9 vs. 2.1/6). In addition, "The Middle" won its half-hour over the World Series with Women 18-49, while qualifying as the No. 1 regular program in its slot with Adults 18-34 and Men 18-34. The ABC comedy once again registered as the time slot's top-rated broadcast series with Teens 12-17.

· Opposite World Series competition, "The Middle" grew week to week with Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, Women 18-49 (2nd best of season) and Women 25-54 (season high).

· Rising over its year-ago performance for the 5th straight telecast this season, "The Middle" grew over the same night last year by 6% in viewers & 12% in young adults (8.5 million and 2.6/8).

"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Increasing from its Adult 18-49 lead-in for the 4th time in as many telecasts (+7%) at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "Suburgatory" topped the World Series in the half-hour with Women 18-49, beat its CBS and NBC competition with Adults 18-34 and stood as the No. 1 broadcast program with Teens 12-17.

· Despite facing the Fall Classic, "Suburgatory" held 100% of its Adult 18-49 audience week to week, while hitting series highs with key Men (M18-49/M25-54).

· "Suburgatory" once again generated substantial improvement for the Net over the year-ago time period occupant ("Better with You") in viewers (+29% - 8.8 million vs. 6.8 million) and young adults (+48% - 3.1/8 vs. 2.1/6).

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

Building on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. to take first place in its slot with Adults 18-49 over the World Series (+40% - 4.0/10) and CBS' "Criminal Minds" (+47% - 3.8/9), ABC's "Modern Family" (5.6/14) registered as the evening's No. 1 TV program for the 5th week running this season. In fact the ABC comedy won its slot over the World Series across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

· Up year to year for the 5th consecutive telecast this season, "Modern Family" improved over its year-ago telecast by 7% in viewers (12.8 million vs. 12.0 million) and by 19% with young adults (5.6/14 vs. 4.7/13).

"Happy Endings" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's sophomore Happy Endings stood as the No. 1 series in its slot for the 3rd week running in Adults 18-34 (2.5/7) and Women 18-34 (3.0/8). The ABC comedy was also the highest-rated series in its time period with hard-to-reach Men 18-34 (2.1/6).

· ABC's "Happy Endings" hit series highs with Men 18-34 (tie) and Men 18-49.

"Revenge" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Once again gaining on its Total Viewer lead-in (+1.0 million - 7.9 million vs. 6.9 million) during the 10 o'clock hour against established dramas on both CBS ("CSI") and NBC ("L&O: SVU"), ABC's freshman drama "Revenge" ran neck-and-neck with "CSI" among Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1-tenth and tied in share - 2.5/7 vs. 2.6/7) and easily beat out "Law & Order: SVU" (+19% - 2.1/5). In addition, "Revenge was the No. 1 series in the hour for its 5th consecutive airing with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, while winning its hour outright over the World Series with Women 18-49 and Women 25-54.

· For the new series' 5th straight telecast, "Revenge" produced enormous time-period improvement for ABC, surging over the year-ago night ("The Whole Truth" = 4.5 million and 1.3/4) in viewers (+78%) and young adults (+92%). In fact, "Revenge" stands as ABC's most-watched series in Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour in more than 4 years - since "Lost" during the 2006-07 TV Season.

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 42% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2010. 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), 10/19/11.