ABC Is #1 in Adults 18-49 on the Final Night of the Season and #1 in the May Sweep for the First Time in 13 Years

ABC was #1 on the final night of the 2012-13 season in Adults 18-49 (tie) with Modern Family finishing as Wednesday's #1 show on all 4 weeks of the 2013 May Sweep. In fact, ABC ranked #1 for the May Sweep in Adults 18-49 (tie) for the first time in 13 years - since 2000. Closing out the season with strong momentum, the Net was #1 in Total Viewers and/or Adults 18-49 on 5 of the final 6 nights (Fri/Sun/Mon/Tues/Wed). The Middle had its most-watched season finale since 2010 and Nashville closed its first season its best numbers since the beginning of the year.

Up week to week in viewers (+10%) and young adults (+5%), ABC's season finale of The Middle ranked #1 in the 8pm half-hour on both counts. The ABC comedy drew its biggest audience in 6 weeks and equaled a 12-week high in Adults 18-49 - since 4/10/13 and 2/27/13, respectively. The Middle marked its most-watched season finale in 3 years - since 5/19/10.

Jumping 125% from its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm, ABC's Modern Family dominated its half-hour, beating runner-up CBS' Criminal Minds finale by 44%, Fox's Masterchef premiere by 64% and NBC's L&O: SVU finale by 125%. Modern Family was up 3% in Adults 18-49 over its week-ago Fast Affiliate Adult 18-49 rating, which translated to its best number since 4/10/13

At 10pm opposite the final hour of CBS' 2-hour Criminal Minds finale, ABC's freshman finale of Nashville beat NBC's freshman finale of Chicago Fire by 12% in Adults 18-49. Building for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+12%) and for the 3rd week in Total Viewers (+9%), Nashville closed out its season with its strongest results since January - since 1/16/13 and 1/23/13, respectively.

Quick Take for Wednesday, May 22, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is No. 1 in Adults 18-49 on the Season's Final Night and for the May Sweep

"The Middle" Wins its Slot with its Most-Watched Season Finale Since 2010

ABC's "Modern Family" is the No. 1 Show in Adults 18-49 On All 4 Wednesdays During the 2013 May Sweep

Beating NBC's "Chicago Fire" Freshman Finale by 12% in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Nashville" Closes Out its Freshman Season at a 4-Month High

Wednesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.) ABC was No. 1 on the final night of the 2012-13 season in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7-tie), with "Modern Family" finishing as Wednesday's top-rated show on all 4 weeks of the 2013 May Sweep. In fact, ABC ranked No. 1 for the May Sweep in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5-tie) for the first time in 13 years - since 2000. Closing out the season with strong momentum, the Net was No. 1 in Total Viewers and/or Adults 18-49 on 5 of the final 6 nights (Fri/Sun/Mon/Tues/Wed). "The Middle" had its most-watched season finale since 2010 and "Nashville" ended its first season with its best numbers since the beginning of the year.

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

Up week to week in viewers (+10% - 7.5 million vs. 6.8 million) and young adults (+5% - 2.0/7 vs. 1.9/7), ABC's season finale of "The Middle" ranked No. 1 in the 8:00 p.m. half-hour on both counts.

· The ABC comedy drew its biggest audience in 6 weeks and equaled a 12-week high in Adults 18-49 - since 4/10/13 and 2/27/13, respectively. In addition, "The Middle" marked its most-watched season finale in 3 years - since 5/19/10.

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

Jumping 125% from its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" (3.6/11) dominated its half-hour, beating runner-up CBS' "Criminal Minds" finale by 44% (2.5/7), Fox's "Masterchef" premiere by 64% (2.2/6) and NBC's "L&O: SVU" finale by 125% (1.6/5).

· "Modern Family" was up 3% in Adults 18-49 over its week-ago Fast Affiliate Adult 18-49 rating, which translated to its best number since 4/10/13.

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

At 10:00 p.m. opposite the final hour of CBS' 2-hour "Criminal Minds" finale, ABC's freshman finale of "Nashville" beat NBC's freshman finale of "Chicago Fire" by 12% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.7/5).

· Building for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+12% - 1.9/5 vs. 1.7/5) and for the 3rd week in Total Viewers (+9% - 6.1 million vs. 5.6 million), "Nashville" capped its season with its strongest results since January - since 1/16/13 and 1/23/13, respectively.

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), 05/22/13.