ABC's "The Middle," "The Neighbors" and "Modern Family" Post Gains

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

Up for the 2nd straight week, ABC's Modern Family once again finished as Wednesday's #1 scripted TV show across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

Building week to week at 8pm against the opening half-hours of Idol and Survivor, ABC's The Middle outdelivered NBC's Whitney by a best-ever 4.9 million viewers and by 100% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC comedy increased its advantage over Survivor in the half-hour to 31% in Adults 18-34 (up from 18% the prior week). The Middle was up over the prior week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18--49 (+16%). In addition, the show surged 31% in Adults 18-34 to equal its best number since the beginning of November - since 11/7/12.

Also improving week to week at 8:30pm, ABC's The Neighbors took full control of its comedy competition, defeating NBC's Guys with Kids by its biggest margins ever of 110% in Total Viewers and 73% in Adults 18-49. Increasing week to week in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+12%), The Neighbors posted its best results in 4 weeks - since 1/23/13. The new ABC family comedy posted its 2nd-highest rating ever with Kids 2-11.

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+105%) and continuing to grow its numbers, ABC's Modern Family beat its nearest scripted competition the half-hour by 50% (Criminal Minds). The ABC comedy ranked as the #1 TV show of the night over Idol across all key Men demos (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54). Up for the 2nd week running, Modern Family gained 6% in Total Viewers and 3% in Adults 18-49.

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Suburgatory beat out the second half-hour of NBC's L&O: SVU by 18% Adults 18-49. Improving its slot year to year, Suburgatory was up by 9% in Total Viewers from the same night last year.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's A Special Edition of 20/20: Mad About Oscar with Katie Couric was up over the year-ago ABC Oscar special in the hour by 4% in Total Viewers.

Quick Take for Wednesday, February 20, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

With its Best Adult 18-34 Rating Since November, "The Middle" Beats "Survivor"

Earning its Top Numbers in 1 Month, "The Neighbors" Towers Over its Freshman Comedy Competition, Beating NBC's "Guys with Kids" by its Biggest Margins Ever

Up for the 2nd Week Running, ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted Show and Marks its Most Competitive Finish This Season with "Idol"

"Suburgatory" Outdelivers NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" by 18% in Adults 18-49

ABC's "A Special Edition of 20/20: Mad About Oscar with Katie Couric" is Up In Total Viewers Over ABC's Oscar Special on the Same Night Last Year

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

Up for the 2nd straight week, ABC's "Modern Family" once again finished as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). In addition, "Modern Family" posted its most competitive finish this season against Fox's "American Idol" in Adults 18-49, coming within 2-tenths of a rating point of catching the Fox show (3.9/10 vs. 4.1/11).

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

Building week to week at 8:00 p.m. against the opening half-hours of "Idol" and "Survivor," ABC's "The Middle" outdelivered NBC's "Whitney" by a best-ever 4.9 million viewers (8.2 million vs. 3.3 million) and by 100% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 1.1/3). In addition, the ABC comedy increased its advantage over CBS' "Survivor" in the half-hour to 31% in Adults 18-34 (up from 18% the prior week).

· "The Middle" was up over the prior week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18--49 (+16%). In addition, the show surged 31% in Adults 18-34 to equal its best number since the beginning of November - since 11/7/12.

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

Also improving week to week at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Neighbors" took full control of its comedy competition, defeating NBC's "Guys with Kids" by its biggest margins ever of 110% in Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 3.0 million) and 73% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.1/3).

· Increasing week to week in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+12%), "The Neighbors" posted its best results in 1 month - since 1/23/13. The new ABC family comedy earned its 2nd-highest rating ever with Kids 2-11.

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

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+105%), ABC's "Modern Family" (3.9/10) beat its nearest scripted competition the half-hour by 50% (CBS' "Criminal Minds" = 2.6/7). The ABC comedy ranked as the No. 1 TV show of the night over "Idol" across all key Men demos (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

· Up for the 2nd week running, "Modern Family" gained 6% in Total Viewers and 3% in Adults 18-49.

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

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Suburgatory" beat out NBC's "L&O: SVU" by 18% Adults 18-49 (2.0/5 vs. 1.7/5).

· Improving its slot year to year, "Suburgatory" drew 9% more viewers for ABC to the half-hour this year (5.9 million vs. 5.4 million).

"A Special Edition of 20/20: Mad About Oscar with Katie Couric" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "A Special Edition of 20/20: Mad About Oscar with Katie Couric" was up over the year-ago ABC Oscar special in the hour by 4% in Total Viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.8 million on 2/22/12).

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 47% currently, from 43% at the same point in 2012. 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), 02/20/13.