ABC's "Modern Family" Is Wednesday's #1 TV Show and "Nashville" Equals a 9-Week High in Adults 18-49

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.4 million and 1.9/5 in AD18-49): Returning to its original lineup after the prior week's Thanksgiving Eve repeats, ABC ranked #2 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5-tied w/CBS), beating Fox by 36% (2-hour The X-Factor = 1.4/4).

· ABC's Modern Family (9.4 million and 3.1/9) finished as Wednesday's #1 TV show in Adults 18-49, standing as the night's highest-rated series on each first-run telecast this season.

· During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Nashville (5.8 million and 1.6/5) equaled a 9-week high in Adults 18-49 - since 10/2/13. In addition, the ABC sophomore drama grew 9% from its last original in Adults 18-34. On average, Nashville is ABC's biggest percentage gainer in TV playback this season, spiking 71% in Adults 18-49 (+1.2 rating points) from L+SD to L+7.

...more to come

Quick Take for Wednesday, December 4, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"The Middle" Beats "The X-Factor" by Wide Margins in Viewers and Young Adults

"Back in the Game" Draws a Larger Audience than Fox's "The X-Factor" at 8:30pm

"Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 Series on Each Original Telecast this Season

"Super Fun Night" Tops the Final Half-Hour of "The X-Factor" by 13% in Adults 18-49

ABC's Top Show in TV Playback, "Nashville" Equals a 9-Week High in Adults 18-49

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.4 million and 1.9/5 in AD18-49):

Returning to its original lineup after the prior week's Thanksgiving Eve repeats, ABC ranked No. 2 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5-tied w/CBS), beating Fox by 36% (2-hour "The X-Factor" = 1.4/4).

· ABC's "Modern Family" finished as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49, standing as the night's top-rated series on each first-run telecast this season.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.5 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., "The Middle" outdelivered Fox's "The X-Factor" by 2.6 million viewers (7.5 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 46% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 vs. 1.3/4). In addition, the ABC comedy earned second place in its half-hour with Adults 25-54 and key Men (M18-49/M25-54).

"Back in the Game" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

In the 8:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Back in the Game" drew a bigger audience than "The X Factor" (5.2 million vs. 5.1 million) and tied the Fox unscripted series in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.4 million and 3.1/9 in AD18-49):

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+121%), ABC's "Modern Family" won by 11% over runner-up NBC's "SNL Christmas" (3.1/9 vs. 2.8/8).

"Super Fun Night" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 4.9 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Super Fun Night" beat the final half-hour of Fox's "The X Factor" by 13% (1.7/5 vs. 1.5/4). In addition, the ABC freshman comedy was No. 2 in its half-hour with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.8 million and 1.6/5 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" equaled a 9-week high in Adults 18-49 - since 10/2/13. In addition, the ABC sophomore drama grew 9% from its last original in Adults 18-34.

· On average, "Nashville" is ABC's biggest percentage gainer in TV playback this season, spiking 71% in Adults 18-49 (+1.2 rating points) from L+SD to L+7.

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 46% 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), 12/04/13.