"Modern Family" Tops "Idol" in Adults 18-49 - "The Neighbors" and "Suburgatory" Grow

Returning to an all-original Wednesday lineup for the first time in 4 weeks, ABC earned second place to Fox with a 2-hour Idol in Adults 18-49. ABC's Modern Family topped American Idol for its 2nd straight original telecast in Adults 18-49 to lead the night. Once TV playback is factored in, Modern Family gains 2.2 Adult 18-49 rating points on average and will be firmly the #1 TV show on the night.

Opposite the opening half-hours of Idol and CBS' Survivor at 8pm, ABC's The Middle outdelivered NBC's Whitney by 3.7 million viewers and by 80% in Adults 18-49.

Gaining week to week at 8:30pm in viewers (+15%) and young adults (+7%), ABC's freshman season finale of The Neighbors dominated NBC's sophomore season finale of Whitney by 2.4 million viewers and by 36% in Adults 18-49.

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+113%), ABC's Modern Family held a 100% advantage over its nearest scripted competition in the half-hour (NBC's Law & Order: SVU). In addition, Modern Family won the half hour across all key Men and Teens 12-17.

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Suburgatory stood as the #1 scripted show with Adults 18-49. The sophomore ABC sitcom surged week to week in viewers (+29%) and young adults (+27%) to deliver its best numbers in 1 month on both measures. Improving its slot over original programming on the same night last year, Suburgatory drew 32% more viewers to ABC in the half-hour year to year.

In its first original airing since February 27th, ABC's Nashville came back to rank as the #1 scripted show in the 10 o'clock hour with Adults 18-34, and for its 8th straight original, in Women 18-34. Catapulting 81% (and +1.3 rating points) over its initially reported Live + Same Day Adult 18-49 rating for its last original, ABC's freshman Nashville was that week's biggest percentage gainer for any new series, growing from a 1.6 rating to a 2.9 rating in the final Live + 7 numbers.

Quick Take for Wednesday, March 27, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"Modern Family" Tops "Idol" to Rank as Wednesday's No. 1 Show in Adults 18-49

ABC's "The Middle" Takes Full Control of NBC's "Whitney" in the 8pm Half-Hour

Freshman Finale of "The Neighbors" is Up and Dominates the "Whitney" Finale

"Modern" Leads its Nearest Scripted Competition in the Slot by 100% in Adults 18-49

"Suburgatory" Surges by Double Digits Week to Week to Deliver 4-Week Highs

"Nashville" Returns as the No. 1 Scripted Show in the 10pm Hour in Adults 18-34

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

Returning to an all-original Wednesday lineup for the first time in 4 weeks, ABC (1.9/6) earned second place to Fox with a 2-hour "Idol" in Adults 18-49. ABC's "Modern Family" topped "American Idol" in Adults 18-49 to lead Wednesday. Once TV playback is factored in, "Modern Family" gains 2.2 Adult 18-49 rating points on average and will be firmly the No. 1 TV show on the night.

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

Opposite the opening half-hours of "Idol" and CBS' "Survivor" at 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" outdelivered NBC's "Whitney" by 3.7 million viewers (6.8 million vs. 3.1 million) and by 80% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6 vs. 1.0/3).

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

Gaining week to week at 8:30 p.m. in viewers (+15%) and young adults (+7%), ABC's freshman season finale of "The Neighbors" dominated NBC's sophomore season finale of "Whitney" by 2.4 million viewers (5.5 million vs. 3.1 million) and by 36% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 vs. 1.1/3).

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

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+113%), ABC's "Modern Family" (3.2/9) held a 100% advantage over its nearest scripted competition in the half-hour (NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" = 1.6/4). In addition, "Modern Family" won the half hour across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54) and Teens 12-17.

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

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Suburgatory" stood as the No. 1 scripted show with Adults 18-49 (1.9/5). The sophomore ABC sitcom surged week to week in viewers (+29%) and young adults (+27%) to deliver its best numbers in 1 month on both measures. Improving its slot over original programming on the same night last year, "Suburgatory" drew 32% more viewers to ABC in the half-hour year to year (5.4 million vs. 4.1 million).

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

In its first original airing since February 27th, ABC's "Nashville" earned second in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4) and came back to rank as the No. 1 scripted show in the 10 o'clock hour with Adults 18-34, and for its 8th straight original, in Women 18-34. Catapulting 81% (and +1.3 rating points) over its initially reported Live + Same Day Adult 18-49 rating for its last original, ABC's freshman "Nashville" was that week's biggest percentage gainer for any new series, growing from a 1.6 rating to a 2.9 rating in the final Live + 7 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 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), 03/27/13.