ABC Dominates Wednesday - #1 in All 6 Half-Hours in Adults 18-49

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

ABC dominated its 2nd consecutive Wednesday among Adults 18-49, leading runner-up CBS with its broadcast of the People's Choice Awards by 39%. In addition, ABC beat out NBC's original lineup on the night by 1.0 viewers and by 68% young adults, which included the time-period premiere of Whitney and the highly-promoted series debut of Are You There, Chelsea?

· ABC swept the evening, ranking #1 in all 6 half-hours with Adults 18-49. In fact, the Net's comedies placed as Wednesday's Top 4 TV shows in the key young adult sales demo, with Modern Family, Happy Endings, The Middle and Suburgatory, respectively.

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle won its half-hour over NBC's time-period premiere of Whitney, leading its comedy competition by 3.5 million viewers and by 43% in Adults 18-49.

· The Middle equaled an 11-week high among Adults 18-49, representing the series' 3rd-highest-ever number.

Like its lead-in, ABC's Suburgatory took first place in its slot with young adults and defeated its NBC comedy competition at 8:30pm by wide margins. ABC freshman Suburgatory outdelivered the high-profile series opener of NBC's Are You There, Chelsea? by 41% in Total Viewers and by 26% in Adults 18-49.

· Building its overall audience for its 2nd straight airing, Suburgatory generated its most-watched telecast since October - since 10/26/11. In addition, the show matched its best Adult 18-49 number since early-November (since 11/2/11) and achieved a new series-high with Teens 12-17.

At 9pm, ABC's Modern Family towered over its time-period competition to finish as Wednesday's #1 TV show in Adults 18-49 for its 11th straight first-run telecast this season. The ABC comedy also stood as the most-watched TV show overall on the evening.

· Modern Family grew over its year-ago telecast by 11% in viewers and by 21% in young adults.

During the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Happy Endings ran a strong #1 over first-run competition in Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS' People's Choice Awards by 11%, Fox's Mobbed by 107% and NBC's Harry's Law by 138%.

· Building week to week, Happy Endings scored its highest ratings in 2 months among Adults 18-34 and key Men (M18-34/M18-49) - since 11/16/11.

From 10-11pm, ABC freshman drama Revenge ranked #1 in its hour among Adults 18-49, beating CBS' People's Choice Awards (+4%) and NBC's Law & Order: SVU (+20%). It was the show's 2nd week in a row to finish as the top-rated entertainment program in the hour.

· Rising 6% over the prior week, ABC's Revenge tallied an 8-week high among Adults 18-34 - since 11/16/11.

Quick Take for Wednesday, January 11, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Dominates its 2nd Straight Wednesday Among Adults 18-49, Finishing No. 1 in All 6 Half-Hours of the Evening and Placing the Top 4 TV Shows

Beating NBC's Time-Slot Premiere of "Whitney" by Wide Margins, ABC's "The Middle" Equals an 11-Week High Among Adults 18-49

Marking its Most-Watched Telecast Since October, ABC Freshman "Suburgatory" Towers Over NBC's Highly-Promoted Series Debut of "Are You There, Chelsea?"

Wednesday's No. 1 Television Show in Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC's "Modern Family" Posts Double-Digit Year-Over-Year Growth

ABC's "Happy Endings" Scores a Strong First-Place Finish in its Slot in Adults 18-49

"Revenge" is No. 1 at 10pm in Adults 18-49 and Hits an 8-Week High in Adults 18-34

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

ABC dominated its 2nd consecutive Wednesday among Adults 18-49 (3.2/8), leading runner-up CBS with its broadcast of the "People's Choice Awards" by 39% (2.3/6). In addition, ABC beat out NBC's original lineup on the night by 1.0 viewers (8.8 million vs. 7.8 million) and by 68% with young adults (3.2/8 vs. 1.9/5), which included the time-period premiere of "Whitney" and the highly-promoted series debut of "Are You There, Chelsea?"

· ABC swept the evening, ranking No. 1 in all 6 half-hours with Adults 18-49. In fact, the Net's comedies placed as Wednesday's Top 4 TV shows in the key young adult sales demo, with "Modern Family," "Happy Endings," "The Middle" and "Suburgatory," respectively.

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" won its half-hour over NBC's time-slot premiere of "Whitney," leading its comedy competition by 3.5 million viewers (9.6 million vs. 6.1 million) and by 43% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/9 vs. 2.1/6).

· "The Middle" equaled an 11-week high among Adults 18-49, representing the series' 3rd-highest-ever number.

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

Like its lead-in, ABC's "Suburgatory" took first place in its slot with young adults and defeated its NBC comedy competition at 8:30 p.m. by wide margins. ABC freshman "Suburgatory" outdelivered the high-profile series opener of NBC's "Are You There, Chelsea?" by 41% in Total Viewers (9.0 million vs. 6.4 million) and by 26% in Adults 18-49 (2.9/8 vs. 2.3/6).

· Building its overall audience for its 2nd straight airing, "Suburgatory" generated its most-watched telecast since October - since 10/26/11. In addition, the show matched its best Adult 18-49 number since early-November (since 11/2/11) and achieved a new series-high with Teens 12-17.

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

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" towered over its time-period competition to finish as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 (5.1/13) for its 11th straight first-run telecast this season. The ABC comedy also qualified as Wednesday's most-watched TV show overall (12.3 million).

· "Modern Family" jumped over its year-ago telecast by 11% in viewers and by 21% in young adults (11.1 million and 4.2/11 on 1/12/11).

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

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Happy Endings" ran a strong No. 1 over first-run competition in Adults 18-49 (3.1/8), outdelivering CBS' "People's Choice Awards" by 11% (2.8/7), Fox's "Mobbed" by 107% (1.5/4) and NBC's "Harry's Law" by 138% (1.3/3).

· Building week to week, "Happy Endings" scored its highest ratings in 2 months among Adults 18-34 and key Men (M18-34/M18-49) - since 11/16/11.

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

From 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC freshman drama "Revenge" ranked No. 1 in its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.4/6), beating CBS' "People's Choice Awards" (+4% - 2.3/6) and NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" (+20% - 2.0/5). It was the show's 2nd week in a row to finish as the top-rated entertainment program in the hour.

· Rising 6% over the prior week, ABC's "Revenge" tallied an 8-week high among Adults 18-34 - since 11/16/11.

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 2011. 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), 1/11/12.