"Modern Family" Is Wednesday's #1 TV Show for 5th Straight Original/"Nashville" Jumps 15% to Equal 4-Month High

ABC's Modern Family finished as Wednesday's #1 TV show for its 5th consecutive original broadcast in Adults 18-49 (3.2/9), topping runner-up CBS' Criminal Minds by 28% (2.5/7) and outdelivering Fox's American Idol by 52% (2.1/6). Modern Family also drew a larger overall audience than Idol on the night for the 2nd straight week (8.775 million vs. 8.766 million). In addition, ABC's 8-10pm comedy block tied Idol in its 2-hour time period among Adults 18-49 (2.1/6).

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 7.1 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle tied American Idol for the 2nd week in a row in Adults 18-49 and held even week to week. In addition, The Middle ranked #1 in the half-hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49), Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

Suburgatory (8:30-9pm - 5.2 million and 1.6/5 in AD18-49):

At 8:30pm, Suburgatory was up by 7% week to week in Adults 18-49.

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 8.8 million and 3.2/9 in AD18-49):

Doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+100%), ABC's Modern Family (3.2/9) won its half-hour by 28% over Criminal Minds (2.5/7) and beat Idol by 52% (2.1/6).

Mixology (9:30-10pm - 4.4 million and 1.6/4 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Mixology held steady week to week in Adults 18-49 and was up for the 2nd straight week in Women 18-49 (+16%) to deliver a new series high.

Nashville (10-11pm - 5.2 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10pm hour, Nashville jumped 15% in Adults 18-49 week to week, equaling a 4-month high - since 12/4/13. In addition, the ABC drama was up for its 2nd straight original in Adults 25-54 (+6%) to also earn its best number since early December - since 12/4/13. On average, Nashville is ABC's top percentage gainer this season via TV Playback and Top 2 among all broadcast series, with originals shooting up 80% from a 1.5 L+SD rating to a 2.7 Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 rating.

Quick Take for Wednesday, April 2, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's 8-10pm Comedy Block Ties Fox's "Idol" Head to Head in Adults 18-49

"The Middle" Catches "Idol" at 8pm for the 2nd Straight Wednesday in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Suburgatory" Grows by 7% Week to Week Among Adults 18-49

Dominating the 9pm Half-Hour, ABC's "Modern Family" Stands as Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for its 5th Consecutive Original Telecast

"Mixology" is Up for the 2nd Week in Women 18-49 to a New Series High

ABC's "Nashville" Jumps 15% Week to Week to Equal a 4-Month High in Adults 18-49

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.0 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

ABC's "Modern Family" finished as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show for its 5th consecutive original broadcast in Adults 18-49 (3.2/9), topping runner-up CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 28% (2.5/7) and outdelivering Fox's "American Idol" by 52% (2.1/6). "Modern Family" also drew a larger overall audience than "Idol" on the night for the 2nd straight week (8.775 million vs. 8.766 million).

· ABC's 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedy block tied "Idol" in its 2-hour time period among Adults 18-49 (2.1/6).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.1 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" tied "American Idol" for the 2nd week in a row in Adults 18-49 and held even week to week. In addition, the ABC family comedy ranked No. 1 in its half-hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49), Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.6/5 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., "Suburgatory" was up by 7% week to week in Adults 18-49.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 8.8 million and 3.2/9 in AD18-49):

Doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+100%), ABC's "Modern Family" (3.2/9) won its half-hour by 28% over CBS' "Criminal Minds" (2.5/7) and beat Fox's "Idol" by 52% (2.1/6).

"Mixology" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 4.4 million and 1.6/4 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Mixology" held steady week to week in Adults 18-49 and was up for the 2nd straight week in Women 18-49 (+16%) to deliver a new series high.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" jumped 15% in Adults 18-49 week to week, equaling a 4-month high - since 12/4/13. In addition, the ABC drama was up for its 2nd straight original in Adults 25-54 (+6%) to also earn its best number since early December - since 12/4/13.

· On average, "Nashville" is ABC's top percentage gainer this season via TV Playback and Top 2 among all broadcast series, with originals shooting up 80% from a 1.5 L+SD rating to a 2.7 Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 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 49% currently, from 47% at the same point in 2013. 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 for 04/02/14.