ABC's "Modern Family" Tops "Idol" by a Best-Ever 27% in Adults 18-34

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

Up against Fox with a 2-hour American Idol, ABC grew over the year-ago Wednesday or the 3rd week in a row in both Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%). In fact, ABC was once again the only broadcaster to post year-to-year gains on the evening in Adults 18-49. The Net ranked #2 to Fox on Wednesday with Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· ABC's Modern Family outdelivered American Idol by a best-ever 27% in Adults 18-34 to stand as Wednesday's #1 TV show overall. The ABC comedy was also the night's #1 show with Women 18-34 and key Men (M18-34/M18-49).

At 8pm against CBS' Survivor: One World and Fox's Idol, ABC's The Middle dominated its NBC comedy competition (Whitney) by 3.4 million viewers and by 53% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC comedy defeated Survivor by strong margins in Adults 18-34 (+23%), Men 18-34 (+30%) and Women 18-34 (+27%).

· Surging year to year by 36% in Teens 12-17, The Middle scored its 2nd-highest-ever number opposite Idol.

Retaining 100% of its young adult lead-in at 8:30pm, ABC's Suburgatory overshadowed its freshman comedy competition in the half-hour, holding huge advantages over NBC's Are You There, Chelsea? in Total Viewers (+100%) and Adults 18-49 (+77% - best-ever). For the 2nd straight week, the ABC freshman comedy outran the second half of Survivor by double digits across the 18-34 demographics: AD18-34 (+20%), M18-34 (+17%) and W18-34 (+35%).

· Suburgatory greatly improved its time period for ABC over the year-ago Wednesday, lifting the slot by 1.1 million viewers and by 28% in Adults 18-49.

Wednesday's #1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49, ABC's Modern Family more than doubled its lead-in at 9pm to dominate its closest scripted competition in the slot by 52% (CBS' Criminal Minds).

· Jumping over the same night last year by double digits in viewers (+13%) and young adults (+15%), ABC's Modern Family tallied the series' 2nd-strongest results to date opposite American Idol on both Nielsen measures.

During the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Happy Endings continued to pace as the #1 scripted show in its slot with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Men 18-34.

· ABC's Happy Ending built week to week in viewers (+5%) and young adults (+4%), while boosting the Net's year-ago performance with Mr. Sunshine in the half-hour by 14% in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Wednesday, February 22, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC is the Only Broadcaster Up on Wednesday Year to Year in Adults 18-49

"Modern Family" Topples "Idol" to Stand as Wednesday's No. 1 Show in Adults 18-34

At 8pm, ABC's "The Middle" Crushes NBC's "Whitney" in Viewers and Young Adults

Growing it Half-Hour, ABC's "Suburgatory" Tops "Survivor" Across the 18-34 Demos

ABC's "Modern Family" Marks its 2nd-Best-Ever Numbers Opposite "Idol" and Finishes as Wednesday's Definitive No. 1 Scripted TV Show in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Happy Endings" Grows Week to Week in Viewers and Young Adults, While Boosting its Slot Over the Year-Ago Comedy by 14% in Adults 18-49

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

Up against Fox with a 2-hour "American Idol," ABC grew over the year-ago Wednesday for the 3rd week in a row in both Total Viewers (+3% - 6.8 million vs. 6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.4/6 vs. 2.3/6). In fact, ABC was once again the only broadcaster to post year-to-year gains on the evening in Adults 18-49. The Net ranked No. 2 to Fox on Wednesday with Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· ABC's "Modern Family" outdelivered "American Idol" by a best-ever 27% in Adults 18-34 (4.2/13 vs. 3.3/11) to stand as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show overall. The ABC comedy was also the night's No. 1 show with Women 18-34 and key Men (M18-34/M18-49).

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

At 8:00 p.m. against CBS' "Survivor: One World" and Fox's "Idol," ABC's "The Middle" dominated its NBC comedy competition ("Whitney") by 3.4 million viewers (7.5 million vs. 4.1 million) and by 53% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 vs. 1.5/4). In addition, the ABC comedy defeated "Survivor" by strong margins in Adults 18-34 (+23%), Men 18-34 (+30%) and Women 18-34 (+27%).

· Surging year to year by 36% in Teens 12-17 (1.9/7 vs. 1.4/5), "The Middle" scored its 2nd-highest-ever number opposite "Idol."

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

Retaining 100% of its young adult lead-in at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "Suburgatory" overshadowed its freshman comedy competition in the half-hour, holding huge advantages over NBC's "Are You There, Chelsea?" in Total Viewers (+100% - 6.8 million vs. 3.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (best-ever +77% - 2.3/6 vs. 1.3/3). For the 2nd straight week, the ABC freshman comedy outran the second half of "Survivor" by double digits across the 18-34 demographics: AD18-34 (+20%), M18-34 (+17%) and W18-34 (+35%).

· "Suburgatory" greatly improved its time period for ABC over the year-ago Wednesday, lifting the slot by 1.1 million viewers and by 28% in Adults 18-49 (5.7 million and 1.8/5 on 2/23/11).

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

Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49 (4.7/12), ABC's "Modern Family" more than doubled its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. to dominate its closest scripted competition in the slot by 52% (CBS' "Criminal Minds" = 3.1/8).

· Jumping over the same night last year by double digits in viewers (+13% - 11.5 million vs. 10.2 million) and young adults (+15% - 4.7/12 vs. 4.1/11), ABC's "Modern Family" tallied the series' 2nd-strongest results to date opposite "American Idol" on both Nielsen measures.

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

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Happy Endings" continued to pace as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Men 18-34.

· ABC's "Happy Endings" built week to week in viewers (+5% - 5.7 million vs. 5.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.5/6 vs. 2.4/6), while boosting the Net's year-ago performance with "Mr. Sunshine" in the half-hour by 14% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 on 2/23/11).

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 39% 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 Day Program Ratings), 2/22/12.