ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's #1 TV Show for its 7th Straight Telecast in Adults 18-49

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

Please Note: Approaching the Thanksgiving holiday week, overall Wednesday Adult 18-49 TV Usage levels declined a significant 5% week to week (36.1 vs. 37.9).

ABC's Modern Family finished as Wednesday's #1 TV show in Adults 18-49 for its 7th consecutive telecast this season.

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle towered over the season premiere of NBC's Whitney, leading its comedy competition by 4.5 million viewers and by 79% in Adults 18-49. In fact, the ABC comedy tied CBS' Survivor: Philippines in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd-straight week and paced within 2-tenths of a rating point and tied the audience share for Fox's The X Factor. Additionally, The Middle finished #1 in the half-hour with Men 18-49 and Teens 12-17.

At 8:30pm, ABC's The Neighbors dominated its freshman comedy competition, beating NBC's Guys with Kids by 76% in Total Viewers and by 46% in Adults 18-49.

Shooting up from its lead-in (+142%) to take full control of the 9pm half-hour, ABC's Modern Family beat out CBS' Criminal Minds by 59%, The X Factor by 59% and NBC's L&O: SVU by 207%.

· In addition to standing as Wednesday's #1 TV show with Adults 18-49, Modern Family was also the evening's top-rated program with Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54 for its 5th straight broadcast.

In the 9:30pm half-hour against the conclusion of The X Factor, ABC's Suburgatory defeated NBC's L&O: SVU by double-digit percentages in viewers (+14%) and young adults (+33%), while standing as the #1 scripted show in its slot with Teens 12-17.

· Suburgatory attracted a larger audience to its time period for ABC year to year (+4%), topping original comedy programming on the same night last year.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Nashville once again registered as the #1 new drama in its slot in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, beating out NBC's Chicago Fire. In addition, the ABC freshman drama ran #1 in its time period with Adults 18-34 (2nd straight week) and Women 18-34 (3rd straight week), outdelivering drama competition on CBS (CSI) and NBC (Chicago Fire). Nashville retained 100% of its Adult 25-54 audience week to week.

· Nashville continues to see huge spikes from its L+SD to L+7 numbers, jumping by 57% in Adults 18-49 (+1.3 rating) and by 43% in Total Viewers (+3.15 million), making it the 2nd-biggest young adult gainer this season among both new shows and among 10pm series.

Quick Take for Wednesday, November 14, 2012 (National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for its 7th Straight Telecast

"The Middle" Towers Over NBC's Season Premiere of "Whitney" and Challenges Fox's "The X Factor" for the Adult 18-49 Lead in its Half-Hour

ABC's "The Neighbors" Dominates its NBC Freshman Comedy Competition at 8:30pm

Spiking 142% Over its Lead-in, "Modern Family" Jumps to Top its Slot in Adults 18-49

"Suburgatory" Attracts a Larger Audience to its Half-Hour for ABC Year Over Year

ABC's "Nashville" is the No. 1 Freshman in its Slot with Viewers and Young Adults, While Continuing to Win the 10pm Hour Among Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34

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

ABC's "Modern Family" finished as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 for its 7th consecutive telecast this season.

Please Note: Overall Wednesday Adult 18-49 TV Usage levels declined a significant -5% week to week (36.1 vs. 37.9).

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" towered over the season premiere of NBC's "Whitney," leading its comedy competition by 4.5 million viewers (8.7 million vs. 4.2 million) and by 79% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8 vs. 1.4/4). In fact, the ABC comedy tied CBS' "Survivor: Philippines" (2.5/7) in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd straight week and paced within 2-tenths of a rating point and tied the audience share for Fox's "The X Factor" (2.7/8). Additionally, "The Middle" finished No. 1 in the half-hour with Men 18-49 (tie) and Teens 12-17.

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

At 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Neighbors" dominated its freshman comedy competition, beating NBC's "Guys with Kids" by 76% in Total Viewers (6.7 million vs. 3.8 million) and by 46% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.3/4).

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

Shooting up from its lead-in (+142%) to take full control of the 9:00 p.m. half-hour in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Modern Family" (4.6/12) beat out CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 59% (2.9/8), "The X Factor" by 59% (2.9/8) and NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" by 207% (1.5/4).

· In addition to standing as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show with Adults 18-49, "Modern Family" was also the evening's top-rated program with Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54 for its 5th straight broadcast.

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

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour against the conclusion of "The X Factor," ABC's "Suburgatory" defeated NBC's "L&O: SVU" by double-digit percentages in viewers (+14% - 7.2 million vs. 6.3 million) and young adults (+33% - 2.4/6 vs. 1.8/5), while standing as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot with Teens 12-17.

· "Suburgatory" attracted a larger audience to its time period for ABC year to year (+4% - 7.2 million vs. 6.9 million), topping original comedy programming on the same night last year.

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" once again registered as the No. 1 freshman series in its slot with Total Viewers (5.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.8/5), beating out NBC's "Chicago Fire" (5.7 million and 1.6/5). In addition, the ABC freshman drama ran No. 1 in its time period with Adults 18-34 (2nd straight week) and Women 18-34 (3rd straight week), outdelivering drama competition on CBS ("CSI") and NBC ("Chicago Fire"). The ABC drama retained 100% of its Adult 25-54 audience week to week.

· "Nashville" continues to see huge increases from its L+SD to L+7 numbers, jumping by 57% in Adults 18-49 (+1.3 rating) and by 43% in Total Viewers (+3.15 million), making it the 2nd-biggest young adult gainer this season among both new shows and 10:00 p.m. series.

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 Ratings), 11/14/12.