ABC's "Happy Endings" Grows Week to Week and Improves its Slot Year to Year

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

For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's mostly repeat Wednesday schedule (1 original half-hour) dominated NBC's first-run schedule on the night, leading by 39% in Total Viewers and by 30% in Adults 18-49.

At 8pm against the start of Fox's 2-hour Idol and CBS' Survivor: One World, ABC's repeat The Middle drew more viewers than NBC's original Whitney.

At 8:30pm like its lead-in, ABC's repeat Suburgatory outdrew its original NBC comedy competition in the 8:30pm half hour, topping Are You There, Chelsea? by 23% in viewers and tying the first-run NBC comedy in Adults 18-49.

At 9pm, ABC's repeat Modern Family stood as the #1 scripted show in its slot among Adults 18-49, topping runner-up CBS' encore Criminal Minds by 12%. In addition, the replay Modern Family more than doubled NBC's original Bent in the half-hour with Total Viewers (+104%) and Adults 18-49 (+111%).

During the 9:30pm half-hour against the conclusion of Idol, ABC's Happy Endings finished as the top-rated scripted show in its slot with Adults 18-49 and as Wednesday's #1 scripted TV show overall (tied w/Modern Family). In addition, the ABC sophomore comedy took full control of a second original episode of NBC's Bent, increasing its winning advantage week to week to 2.2 million viewers and 138% in Adults 18-49 (up from by 1.7 million viewers and by 125% in Adults 18-49 the prior week).

· Happy Endings grew week to week in viewers (+2%) and young adults (+6%). In addition, Happy Endings improved its time period year to year by 5% in Total Viewers and by 36% in Adults 18-49, bettering an original Mr. Sunshine on the same night last year.

During the 10 o'clock hour, for the 2nd consecutive week a replay of ABC freshman drama Missing beat out NBC's original Rock Center with Brian Williams in Total Viewers (+24%), Adults 25-54 (+27%) and Adults 18-49 (+13%).

Quick Take for Wednesday, March 28, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Mostly Repeat Wednesday Dominates NBC's Original Schedule on the Night

From 8-9pm, ABC's Repeat Airings of "The Middle" and "Suburgatory" Outdraw NBC's Season Finales of the Comedies "Whitney" and "Chelsea"

ABC's Repeat "Modern Family" More than Doubles NBC's Original "Bent" at 9pm

Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted Show in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Happy Endings" Grows Week to Week and Improves its Slot Year to Year with Viewers and Young Adults

For the 2nd Week in a Row, ABC's Replay "Missing" Beats NBC's "Rock Center"

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

For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's mostly repeat Wednesday schedule (1 original half-hour) dominated NBC's first-run schedule on the night (including season finales), leading by 39% in Total Viewers (4.3 million vs. 3.1 million) and by 30% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.0/3).

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

At 8:00 p.m., against the start of Fox's 2-hour "Idol" and CBS' "Survivor: One World," ABC's repeat "The Middle" once again drew more viewers than NBC's season finale of "Whitney" (4.3 million vs. 4.2 million).

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

At 8:30 p.m. like its lead-in, ABC's repeat "Suburgatory" outdrew its original comedy competition in the half hour, topping the season closer of "Are You There, Chelsea?" by 23% in viewers (3.8 million vs. 3.1 million) and tying the NBC comedy finale in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4).

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

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "Modern Family" stood as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot among Adults 18-49, topping runner-up CBS' encore "Criminal Minds" by 12% (1.9/5 vs. 1.7/5). lindIn addition, the replay "Modern Family" more than doubled NBC's original "Bent" in the half-hour with Total Viewers (+104% - 5.3 million vs. 2.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+111% - 1.9/5 vs. 0.9/3).

"Happy Endings" (9:30-10:00 p.m.) During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour against the conclusion of "Idol," ABC's "Happy Endings" finished as the top-rated scripted show in its slot and as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show overall in Adults 18-49 (tied w/"Modern Family"). In addition, the ABC sophomore comedy (4.2 million and 1.9/5) took full control of a second original episode of NBC's "Bent" (2.4 million and 0.8/2), increasing its winning advantage week to week to 2.2 million viewers and 138% in Adults 18-49 (up from by 1.7 million viewers and by 125% in Adults 18-49 the prior week).

· "Happy Endings" grew week to week in viewers (+2%) and young adults (+6%). In addition, "Happy Endings" improved its time period year to year by 5% in Total Viewers and by 36% in Adults 18-49, bettering an original "Mr. Sunshine" on the same night last year (4.0 million and 1.4/4 on 3/30/11).

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, for the 2nd consecutive week a replay of ABC freshman drama "Missing" beat out NBC's original "Rock Center with Brian Williams" in Total Viewers (+24% - 4.1 million vs. 3.3 million), Adults 25-54 (+27% - 1.4/3 vs. 1.1/3) and Adults 18-49 (+13% - 0.9/2 vs. 0.8/2).

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 40% 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 Ratings), 03/28/12.