ABC Scores Across-the-Board Gains on Wednesday Night

Info on ABC's Wednesday, ahead of the regular press release.

Despite facing increased competition week to week from a special 2-hour The Voice on NBC, ABC posted across-the-board increases with its Wednesday line up. Jumping 12% over the prior week, the Net took second place on the night among Adults 18-49, beating CBS (Survivor/Criminal Minds/CSI) and Fox with a 2-hour The X Factor.

· In viewers and young adults, ABC's Modern Family stood as Wednesday's #1 TV show, leading the night among Adults 18-49 for its 6th consecutive telecast this season.

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle took second to The Voice, beating CBS' Survivor: Philippines for the first time this season by 8% and Fox's The X Factor by 22%. In addition, the ABC comedy defeated The Voice to finish as the #1 broadcast show in the half-hour with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

· The Middle returned up after its preemption the prior week, growing its numbers for its 4th straight telecast in viewers (+3%) and young adults (+8%) to mark best-since-premiere numbers on both measures.

At 8:30pm, ABC's The Neighbors tied Survivor in Adults 18-34 and beat the CBS unscripted veteran by an impressive 24% with Women 18-34.

· Surging week to week in viewers (+21%) and young adults (+11%), The Neighbors achieved new time-period highs on both counts. In addition, the ABC family comedy shot up 56% week to week with Teens 12-17.

Jumping over its lead-in to win the 9pm half-hour, ABC's Modern Family beat out its nearest competition in the slot by 4% in Total Viewers (Criminal Minds) and by 18% in Adults 18-49 (The Voice). In addition to finishing as Wednesday's #1 TV show in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Modern Family was also the night's highest-rated program with Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54 for its 4th consecutive telecast.

· Modern Family was up over the prior week by double digits in viewers (+16%) and young adults (+12%), while jumping by triple digits with Teens 12-17 (+145%) to earn its highest rating since the beginning of May - since 5/9/12.

In the 9:30pm half-hour against the conclusion of The Voice and The X Factor, ABC's Suburgatory spiked week to week in Total Viewers (+21%) and Adults 18-49 (+21%).

· Hitting season highs, Suburgatory drew its biggest audience since January and tied its top young adult number in over 1 year - since 1/11/12 and 11/2/11, respectively

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Nashville ranked #1 against its CBS (CSI) and NBC (The Voice-driven Chicago Fire) drama competition in Adults 18-34 (tie) and across the key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Equaling the series' 2nd highest Adult 18-49 number, Nashville rose week to week by 5% in viewers and by 11% in young adults.

· Continuing to see big increases in the Live + 7 Day ratings, Nashville spikes over its Live + Same Day numbers by 54% in Adults 18-49 (+1.3 rating) and by 42% in Total Viewers (+3.3 million), averaging 11.1 million viewers and a 3.7 rating with young adults in the final numbers.

Quick Take for Wednesday, November 7, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Scores Across-the-Board Gains on Wednesday Against Increased Competition

Building for its 4th Straight Telecast, "The Middle" Hits Best-Since-Premiere Numbers

In Viewers and Young Adults, "The Neighbors" Grows to New Season Highs in its Slot

Rising Week to Week, "Modern Family" Finishes as Wednesday's No. 1 TV Program

Marking Season Highs, "Suburgatory" Matches its Top Adult 18-49 Rating in 1 Year

Up by Double Digits, ABC's "Nashville" Earns its 2nd-Highest Adult 18-49 Rating

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

Despite facing increased competition week to week from a special 2-hour "The Voice" on NBC, ABC posted across-the-board increases with its Wednesday lineup. Jumping 12% over the prior week, the Net earned second place on the night among Adults 18-49 (2.8/7), beating CBS by 4% ("Survivor"/"Criminal Minds"/"CSI" = 2.7/7) and Fox by 8% (2-hour "The X Factor" = 2.6/7).

· In viewers and young adults, ABC's "Modern Family" stood as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show, leading the night among Adults 18-49 for its 6th consecutive telecast this season.

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" took second in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8) to "The Voice," beating CBS' "Survivor: Philippines" for the first time this season by 8% (2.6/7) and Fox's "The X Factor" by 22% (2.3/7). In addition, the ABC comedy defeated "The Voice" to finish as the No. 1 broadcast show in the half-hour with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

· "The Middle" returned up after its preemption the prior week, growing its numbers for its 4th straight telecast in viewers (+3%) and young adults (+8%) to mark best-since-premiere numbers on both measures.

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

At 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Neighbors" tied "Survivor" in Adults 18-34 (1.5/5) and beat the CBS unscripted veteran by an impressive 24% with Women 18-34 (2.1/6 vs. 1.7/5).

· Surging week to week in viewers (+21%) and young adults (+11%), "The Neighbors" achieved new season highs in the half-hour on both counts. In addition, the ABC family comedy shot up 56% week to week with Teens 12-17.

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

Jumping over its lead-in to win the 9:00 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Modern Family" (12.3 million and 4.7/12) beat out its nearest competition in the slot by 4% in Total Viewers ("Criminal Minds" = 11.8 million) and by 18% in Adults 18-49 ("The Voice" = 4.0/10). In addition to finishing as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "Modern Family" was also the night's highest- rated program with Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54 for its 4th consecutive telecast.

· "Modern Family" was up over the prior week by double digits in viewers (+16%) and young adults (+12%), while jumping by triple digits with Teens 12-17 (+145%) to earn its highest rating since the beginning of May - since 5/9/12.

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

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour against the conclusion of "The Voice" and "The X Factor," ABC's "Suburgatory" spiked week to week in Total Viewers (+21% - 7.6 million vs. 6.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+21% - 2.9/7 vs. 2.4/6).

· Hitting season highs, "Suburgatory" drew its biggest audience since January and tied its top young adult number in over 1 year - since 1/11/12 and 11/2/11, respectively

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" ranked No. 1 against its drama competition on CBS ("CSI") and NBC ("The Voice"-driven "Chicago Fire") in Adults 18-34 (1.6/5-tie) and across the key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Equaling the series' 2nd highest Adult 18-49 number, "Nashville" rose week to week by 5% in viewers (6.0 million vs. 5.7 million) and by 11% in young adults (2.0/5 vs. 1.8/5).

· Continuing to see big increases in the Live + 7 Day ratings, "Nashville" spikes over its Live + Same Day numbers by 54% in Adults 18-49 (+1.3 rating) and by 42% in Total Viewers (+3.3 million), averaging 11.1 million viewers and a 3.7 rating with young adults in the final numbers.

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 46% currently, from 43% 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), 11/07/12.