ABC's "Modern Family" Is Wednesday's #1 TV Show, Outdelivering "The Voice" and "Idol" in Adults 18-49

ABC's Modern Family continued to rank as Wednesday's #1 TV show in Adults 18-49, outdelivering NBC's special live results show for The Voice by 15% and Fox's American Idol by 11%. Modern has now topped or tied Idol-Wed in each of its last 6 first-run airings. Out of Modern, How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) improved its lead-in retention week to week and delivered better retention for ABC in the half-hour over the year-ago night (65% vs. 52%).

At 8pm, opposite a 3-way reality faceoff (Idol, The Voice and Survivor), ABC's The Middle tied Survivor in the half hour in Adults 18-34, while leading the CBS reality show by 31% in Women 18-34. The ABC family comedy held the #1 position in the half-hour in Teens 12-17, beating The Voice by 7%, Idol by 50% and Survivor by 67%. Despite the increased competition, The Middle paced within 2-tenths of an Adult 18-49 rating of the prior week. In addition, the show was up with Women 18-34 (+6%) to tie an 11-week high.

Nearly tripling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+182%), ABC's Modern Family ranked #1 in its half-hour with a 24% advantage over its nearest scripted competition (CBS' Criminal Minds).

During the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's How to Live with Your Parents delivered strong retention of its week-ago telecast in Total Viewers (97%), Adults 18-49 (95%) and Adults 18-34 (100%). How to Live with Your Parents was the #1 scripted show in its slot with Men 18-34, growing for the 2nd straight week (+11%) to its best number in 4 weeks.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Nashville continued to outdeliver its drama competition on CBS (CSI) and NBC (Chicago Fire) in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. The ABC freshman drama was up week to week in Total Viewers (+2%). Posting big increases via TV playback, season to date Nashville's Adult 18-49 rating for originals goes up 58% on average from L+SD to L+7.

Quick Take for Wednesday, May 8, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

At 8pm, ABC's "The Middle" Beats "The Voice," "Idol" and "Survivor" in Teens 12-17

"Modern Family" Continues its Run as Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show in Adults 18-49

"How To Live With Your Parents" Delivers Improved Retention for ABC Year to Year

"Nashville" Once Again Defeats its CBS and NBC Drama Competition in Adults 18-34

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

ABC's "Modern Family" continued to rank as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 (3.1/9), outdelivering NBC's special "The Voice" live results show by 15% (2.7/8) and Fox's "American Idol" by 11% (2.8/8). "Modern" has topped or tied "Idol-Wed" in each of its last 6 first-run airings. Out of "Modern," "How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)" improved its lead-in retention week to week and delivered better retention for ABC in the half-hour over the year-ago night (65% vs. 52%).

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

At 8:00 p.m., opposite a 3-way reality faceoff ("Idol," "The Voice" and "Survivor"), ABC's "The Middle" tied "Survivor" in the half hour in Adults 18-34 (1.2/5), while leading the CBS reality show by 31% in Women 18-34 (1.7/6 vs. 1.3/5). The ABC family comedy held the No. 1 position in the half-hour in Teens 12-17 (1.5/7), beating "The Voice" by 7% (1.4/6), "Idol" by 50% (1.0/5) and "Survivor" by 67% (0.9/4). Despite the increased competition, "The Middle" paced within 2-tenths of an Adult 18-49 rating of the prior week (1.8/6 vs. 2.0/7). In addition, the show was up with Women 18-34 (+6%) to tie an 11-week high.

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

Nearly tripling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+182%), ABC's "Modern Family" ranked No. 1 in its half-hour (tie) with a 24% advantage over its nearest scripted competition (3.1/9 vs. 2.5/7 for CBS' "Criminal Minds").

"How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)" (9:30 -10:00 p.m.)

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "How to Live with Your Parents" delivered strong retention of its week-ago telecast in Total Viewers (97% - 6.0 million vs. 6.2 million), Adults 18-49 (95% - 2.0/5 vs. 2.1/6) and Adults 18-34 (100% - 1.5/5). "How to Live with Your Parents" was the No. 1 scripted show in its slot with Men 18-34, growing for the 2nd straight week (+11%) to its best number in 4 weeks.

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" continued to outdeliver its drama competition on CBS ("CSI") and NBC ("Chicago Fire") in Adults 18-34 (1.3/4) and Women 18-34 (1.8/5). The ABC freshman drama was up week to week in Total Viewers (+2% - 5.4 million vs. 5.3 million). Posting big increases via TV playback, season to date "Nashville's" Adult 18-49 rating for originals goes up 58% on average from L+SD to L+7 (building from a 1.9 rating to a 3.0 rating).

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 48% currently, from 44% 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), 05/08/13.