ABC's Barbara Walters Special Marks Big Year-Over-Year Time-Period Improvement

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

From 8-9:30pm, ABC's repeat comedies (The Middle/Suburgatory/Modern Family) rose sharply over encore comedies in the 90-minute time period on the same Wednesday last year among Total Viewers (+13%) and Adults 18-49 (+19%).

· The Middle posted its strongest repeat performance of the season and Suburgatory hit the series' best-ever repeat numbers.

· ABC's 9pm repeat Modern Family outdelivered Fox's X Factor-fueled first-run I Hate My Teenage Daughter at 9:30pm by 1.4 million viewers and by 21% in Adults 18-49.

Surging over its repeat Modern Family lead-in at 9:30pm by 1.7 million viewers and gaining audience throughout its 90-minute broadcast, ABC's Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011 earned second place in its time period with viewers and key Adult demos (AD18-49/AD25-54). In addition, the ABC special, highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports and politics, finished #1 against its broadcast competition in the slot with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. Steve Jobs was named the most fascinating person of 2011.

· Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011 generated big year-over-year improvement for ABC in the 90-minute time period, with Total Viewers (+102%), Adults 18-49 (+53%) and Adults 25-54 (+61%).

Quick Take for Wednesday, December 14, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Repeat Wednesday Comedies Post Double-Digit Year-Over-Year Growth

ABC's "The Middle" Marks its Strongest Encore Performance this Season And "Suburgatory" Marks the Series' Highest-Ever Repeat Numbers

ABC's Replay "Modern Family" Tops Fox's "X Factor"-Fueled Original Comedy

ABC's "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011" Surges Over its Lead-in and Gains Audience Throughout its 90-Minute Broadcast

ABC's "Barbara Walters Special" Scores Big Year-to-Year Time Period Improvement

ABC Repeat Comedies (8:00-9:30 p.m.)

From 8:00-9:30 p.m., ABC's repeat comedies ("The Middle"/"Suburgatory"/"Modern Family") rose sharply over encore comedies in the 90-minute time period on the same Wednesday last year among Total Viewers (+13% - 6.0 million vs. 5.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+19% - 1.9/5 vs. 1.6/5).

· "The Middle" (6.2 million and 1.7/5) posted its strongest repeat performance of the season and "Suburgatory" (5.2 million and 1.7/5) hit the series' best-ever repeat numbers.

· ABC's 9:00 p.m. repeat "Modern Family" outdelivered Fox's "X Factor"-fueled first-run "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" at 9:30 p.m. by 1.4 million viewers (6.6 million vs. 5.2 million) and by 21% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 1.9/5).

"Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011" (9:30-11:00 p.m.)

Surging over its repeat "Modern Family" lead-in at 9:30 p.m. by 1.7 million viewers and gaining audience throughout its 90-minute broadcast, ABC's "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011" earned second place in its time period with viewers (8.3 million) and key Adult demos: AD18-49 (2.3/6) and AD25-54 (2.9/7). In addition, the ABC special highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports and politics, finished No. 1 against its broadcast competition in the slot with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. Steve Jobs was named the most fascinating person of 2011.

· "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011" generated big year-over-year improvement for ABC in the 90-minute time period, with Total Viewers (+102%), Adults 18-49 (+53%) and Adults 25-54 (+61%).

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 Ratings), 12/14/11.