With Record-Setting DVR Gains, ABC's "Modern Family" Moves Ahead of Fox's "American Idol"-Thursday Premiere

Live + 7 Day Ratings for the week of 1/16/12 (Week #18):

Based on the Live + 7 Day ratings, ABC's Modern Family emerged as TV's #2 series of the week in Adults 18-49 (7.8 rating), leading the Thursday season premiere of Fox's American Idol by 11% (7.0). This marked the first time since May 2010 that a regularly scheduled series has outperformed any telecast of American Idol. Initially in the Live + Same Day statistics, Modern Family ranked as TV's #4 series of the week in the young adult demo, behind both editions of American Idol and CBS' The Big Bang Theory. In addition, the ABC sitcom beat the CBS sitcom in the Live + 7 Day numbers by nearly a full rating point (+0.9 - 7.8 vs. 6.9) to rank as the week's top scripted series.

· Based on Nielsen's DVR playback data for the week, ABC claimed the Top 2 biggest gainers among Adults 18-49 with Modern Family and Grey's Anatomy. With a record-setting 5.24 million viewer jump (11.89 million to 17.13 million) and a 2.7 ratings build (5.1 to 7.8) over its initial numbers, Modern Family topped the charts for its 11th straight original telecast in both viewers and young adults.

· ABC had 8 shows gain more than 2 million viewers from their initially reported totals via time-shifted viewing, including the week's biggest overall gainer: Modern Family (+5.24 million), Grey's Anatomy (+3.26 million), Castle (+3.11 million), Once Upon a Time (+2.99 million), Revenge (+2.68 million), Body of Proof (+2.47 million), Private Practice (+2.26 million) and Desperate Housewives (+2.11 million).

· Among Adults 18-49, ABC saw 7 series add on at least a full rating point over their initially reported numbers: Modern Family - top gainer overall (+2.7 rating - 5.1 to 7.8), Grey's Anatomy (+1.7 rating - 3.5 to 5.2), Once Upon a Time (+1.3 rating - 3.2 to 4.5), Private Practice (+1.1 rating - 2.1 to 3.2), Revenge (+1.1 rating - 2.5 to 3.6), Castle (+1.0 rating - 2.2 to 3.2) and Desperate Housewives (+1.0 rating - 2.6 to 3.6).

Season-to-Date DVR Playback (9/19/11-1/22/12):

On average for the 2011-12 season, ABC's Modern Family and Grey's Anatomy are the season's Top 2 biggest gainers via time-shifted viewing among Adults 18-49 (picking up 2.4 rating points and 1.6 rating points, respectively), while the ABC sitcom is the season's biggest overall gainer among Total Viewers (+4.76 million).

· With Modern Family (8.0 rating), Grey's Anatomy (5.4) and Disney-owned Once Upon a Time (4.7), ABC claims this season's #1 scripted series/comedy, #1 drama and #1 freshman drama, respectively, in the key young adult demo based on original telecasts.

Source: The Nielsen Company, as dated. Based on original, regular telecasts only.