ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's #1 TV Show/"Revenge" is #1 at 10pm for its 3rd Straight Telecast in Adults 18-49

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

Opposite Fox with its 2-hour primetime comprised of The X Factor live performance show, ABC returned to its regular Wednesday schedule after being preempted the prior week for the CMA Awards with a strong second-place finish on the night among Adults 18-49. On the evening, ABC outdelivered CBS by 3% and more than doubled NBC's results on the evening (+120%). ABC claimed Wednesday's #1 TV show in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 with Modern Family.

· The Net's regular Wednesday lineup scored strong year-to-year gains on the evening for the for the 8th time in as many tries this season, building by double-digit percentages over the same night last November Sweep with viewers (+22%) and young adults (+22%).

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle took full control of its comedy competition in the half-hour, outdelivering NBC's Up All Night by 4.3 million viewers and by 53% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC comedy finished #2 to The X Factor across the 18-34 demos, beating out CBS' Survivor: South Pacific by strong advantages with Adults 18-34 (+38%), Men 18-34 (+19%) and Women 18-34 (+47%).

· For its 8th straight telecast this season, The Middle rose over its year-ago performance with Adults 18-49 (+4%).

· The Middle equaled a series-high with Men 18-34 and its 2nd best-ever number with Men 18-49.

Building on its lead at 8:30pm, ABC's Suburgatory finished #2 to The X Factor in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, beating the second half-hour of CBS' Survivor by wide margins. The ABC freshman comedy also ranked as the #2 broadcast show in the half-hour with Teens 12-17.

· Surging 13% over its most-recent telecast, Suburgatory hit a 5-week high with Teens 12-17 - since 10/12/11.

· For the new series' 7th time in as many airings, Suburgatory generated substantial improvement for the Net over the year-ago comedy in the half-hour with viewers (+14%) and young adults (+22%).

Jumping over its lead-in at 9pm to win its time slot over CBS' Criminal Minds and Fox's The X Factor, ABC's Modern Family registered as the evening's #1 TV program in viewers and young adults. In fact the ABC comedy finished as Wednesday's #1 TV show with young adults for the 8th consecutive airing this season.

· Bettering its year-ago telecast on each original airing this season, the ABC third season comedy was up year to year in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+15%).

During the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Happy Endings finished as the #1 scripted series in its slot for its 7th straight airing with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Despite facing increased competition year to year against the final half-hour of Fox's 2-hour The X Factor, ABC's Happy Endings improved its slot by 7% in Adults 18-49 from the year-ago night.

From 10-11pm opposite veteran dramas on CBS (CSI) and NBC (Law & Order: SVU), ABC freshman drama Revenge ranked #1 for its 3rd straight broadcast in Adults 18-49. In addition, Revenge was the highest-rated series in the hour for its 8th consecutive telecast with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Revenge continued to exhibit impressive year-to-year growth for ABC in the hour, jumping over the year-ago night with original Sweep programming by 93% in viewers and by 73% in Adults 18-49. In fact, on average among viewers and young adults, Revenge is ABC's strongest series to air in Wednesday's 10pm hour in more than 4 years - since Lost during the 2006-07 TV Season.

Quick Take for Wednesday, November 16, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Building Year to Year on Each Week This Season, ABC's Regular Wednesday Schedule Returns with Big Gains Over the Same Night Last November Sweep

Up Over the Year-Ago Night, ABC's "The Middle" Dominates NBC's "Up All Night"

Continuing to Boost its Time Slot for ABC, Freshman Comedy "Suburgatory" Defeats CBS' "Survivor" by Wide Margins in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34

"Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for its 8th Consecutive Airing

ABC's "Happy Endings" is the No. 1 Scripted Show in its Slot Among Adults 18-34

At 10pm, "Revenge" Ranks No. 1 in Adults 18-49 for its 3rd Straight Telecast, Qualifying as ABC's Strongest Series in the Time Period in More Than 4 Years

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

Opposite Fox with its 2-hour primetime comprised of "The X Factor" live performance show, ABC returned to its regular Wednesday schedule after being preempted the prior week for the "CMA Awards" with a strong second-place finish on the night among Adults 18-49. On the evening, ABC (3.3/9) outdelivered CBS by 3% (3.2/8) and more than doubled NBC's results on the evening (+120% - 1.5/4). In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC claimed Wednesday's No. 1 TV show with "Modern Family."

· The Net's regular Wednesday lineup scored strong year-to-year gains on the evening for the 8th time in as many tries this season, building by double-digit percentages over the same night last November Sweep (11/17/10) with viewers (+22% - 8.9 million vs. 7.3 million) and young adults (+22% - 3.3/9 vs. 2.7/8).

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" took full control of its comedy competition in the half-hour, outdelivering NBC's "Up All Night" by 4.3 million viewers (9.1 million vs. 4.8 million) and by 53% in Adults 18-49 (2.9/9 vs. 1.9/5). In addition, the ABC comedy finished No. 2 to "The X Factor" across the 18-34 demos, beating out CBS' "Survivor: South Pacific" by strong advantages with Adults 18-34 (+38%), Men 18-34 (+19%) and Women 18-34 (+47%).

· For its 8th straight telecast this season, "The Middle" grew over its year-ago performance with Adults 18-49 (+4%).

· "The Middle" equaled a series-high in Men 18-34 and its 2nd best-ever number in Men 18-49.

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

Building on its lead at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "Suburgatory" placed No. 2 to "The X Factor" in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, beating the second half-hour of CBS' "Survivor" by wide margins. The ABC freshman comedy also ranked as the No. 2 broadcast show in the half-hour with Teens 12-17 (tie).

· Surging 13% over its most recent telecast, "Suburgatory" hit a 5-week high with Teens 12-17 - since 10/12/11.

· For the new series' 7th time in as many airings, "Suburgatory" generated substantial improvement for the Net over the year-ago comedy ("Better with You") in the half-hour with viewers (+14% - 8.1 million vs. 7.1 million) and young adults (+22% - 2.8/8 vs. 2.3/7).

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

Jumping over its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. to win its time slot over CBS' "Criminal Minds" and Fox's "The X Factor," ABC's "Modern Family" registered as the evening's No. 1 TV program in viewers (12.9 million) and young adults (5.5/14). In fact the ABC comedy finished as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show with Adults 18-49 for the 8th consecutive airing this season.

· Bettering its year-ago telecast on each original airing this season, the ABC third-season comedy was up year to year (12.1 million and 4.8/13) in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+15%).

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

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Happy Endings" finished as the No. 1 scripted series in its slot for its 7th straight airing with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Despite facing increased competition year to year against the final half-hour of Fox's 2-hour "The X Factor," ABC's "Happy Endings" improved its slot by 7% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/8 vs. 3.0/8) from the year-ago night.

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

From 10:00-11:00 p.m. opposite veteran dramas on CBS ("CSI") and NBC ("Law & Order: SVU"), ABC freshman drama "Revenge" ranked No. 1 for its 3rd straight broadcast in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7-tie). In addition, "Revenge" was the highest-rated series in the hour for its 8th consecutive telecast with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· "Revenge" continued to exhibit impressive year-to-year growth for ABC in the hour, jumping over the year-ago night with original Sweep programming ("25 Years of Sexy") by 93% in viewers (8.0 million vs. 4.1 million) and by 73% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 1.5/4). In fact, on average among viewers and young adults, "Revenge" is ABC's strongest series to air 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 43% 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), 11/16/11.