The Goldbergs Opens Strong in its New Slot - Black-ish Debuts with Near Perfect Lead-in Retention Out of Modern

Wednesday (9/24/14) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

The Middle: Live + 3 = 8.8 million/2.5 rating and Live + 7 = 9.3 million/2.6 rating

The Goldbergs: Live + 3 = 10.0 million/3.2 rating and Live + 7 = 10.8 million/3.4 rating

Modern Family: Live + 3 = 15.1 million/4.9 rating and Live + 7 = 16.4 million/5.4 rating

Black-ish: Live + 3 = 12.8 million/3.9 rating and Live + 7 = 13.3 million/4.1 rating

Nashville: Live + 3 = 8.2 million/2.1 rating and Live + 7 = 8.9 million/2.2 rating

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 7.9 million and 2.4/8 in AD18-49): ABC delivered the Top 2 TV shows on the opening Wednesday of the season in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 with Modern Family (10.9 million and 3.7/11), Black-ish (10.8 million and 3.3/10), respectively. In viewers and young adults, ABC marked its strongest Wednesday since last November - since 11/6/13.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 7.4 million and 2.1/8 in AD18-49): At 8pm, the season opener of The Middle held even with its 1-hour season finale in May among Adults 18-49 (2.1/8), matching its best number since early February - since 2/5/14.

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 7.0 million and 2.3/8 in AD18-49): Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+10%) in its new Wednesday 8:30pm slot, ABC's The Goldbergs was ABC's top-rated comedy premiere in the half-hour in 3 years - since 9/28/11. In its new earlier time period, The Goldbergs scored the series' 2nd-highest numbers ever among viewers and young adults, behind only its year-ago debut coming out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. opener on a Tuesday.

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 10.9 million and 3.7/11 in AD18-49): Modern Family dominated the 9pm half-hour in Adults 18-49, topping its May finale in viewers (+4% - 10.9 million vs. 10.5 million) and holding even in Adults 18-49 (3.7/11), drawing its largest audience in nearly 1 year and matching its best young adult number since November - since 10/16/13 and 11/13/13, respectively.

Black-ish (9:30-10pm - 10.8 million and 3.3/10 in AD18-49): Dominating the 9:30pm half-hour in Adults 18-49, ABC's Black-ish delivered impressive retention of its Modern Family lead-in (99%/89%), marking the best-ever Total Viewer retention for a regular comedy debut in the slot and best in 5 years in young adults (since 9/23/09). In addition, Black-ish equaled ABC's top-rated Wednesday comedy debut since February 2011 - since 2/9/11. In addition, it was the highest-rated series debut on any network in Adults 18-49 since March with ABC's Resurrection on 3/9/14.

Nashville (10-11pm - 5.6 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49): ABC's most-heavily recorded show on a percentage basis, ABC's Nashville was up from its May finale in Total Viewers (+8% - 5.6 million vs. 5.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (+15% - 1.5/5 vs. 1.3/4) to its best results since last December (12/4/13).

Quick Take for Wednesday, September 24, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "Modern Family" and "Black-ish" Open as Wednesday's Top 2 TV Shows

"The Middle" Premiere Equals Its Top Adult 18-49 Rating Since February

"The Goldbergs" Builds on Its Lead-in in Its New Slot to Post Its 2nd-Best-Ever Results

ABC's "Modern Family" Premiere Draws Its Biggest Audience in Nearly 1 Year

ABC's "Black-ish" Debut Retains Nearly All of Its "Modern Family" Lead-in And Qualifies as the Season's No. 1 New TV Show in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Nashville" Tops Its May Finale with Its Best Numbers Since Last December

Wednesday (9/24/14) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections:

"The Middle:" Live + 3 = 8.8 million/2.5 rating and Live + 7 = 9.3 million/2.6 rating

"The Goldbergs:" Live + 3 = 10.0 million/3.2 rating and Live + 7 = 10.8 million/3.4 rating

"Modern Family:" Live + 3 = 15.1 million/4.9 rating and Live + 7 = 16.4 million/5.4 rating

"Black-ish:" Live + 3 = 12.8 million/3.9 rating and Live + 7 = 13.3 million/4.1 rating

"Nashville:" Live + 3 = 9.1 million/2.3 rating and Live + 7 = 10.1 million/2.5 rating

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.9 million and 2.4/8 in AD18-49):

ABC delivered the Top 2 TV shows on the opening Wednesday of the season in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 with "Modern Family" (10.9 million and 3.7/11) and "Black-ish" (10.8 million and 3.3/10), respectively.

· In viewers and young adults, ABC marked its strongest Wednesday since last November - since 11/6/13.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.4 million and 2.1/8 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., the season opener of "The Middle" held even with its 1-hour season finale in May among Adults 18-49 (2.1/8), matching its best number since early February - since 2/5/14.

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 7.0 million and 2.3/8 in AD18-49):

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+10%) in its new Wednesday 8:30 p.m. slot, "The Goldbergs" was ABC's top-rated comedy premiere in the half-hour in 3 years - since 9/28/11. In its new earlier time period, "The Goldbergs" scored the series' 2nd-highest-ever numbers among viewers and young adults, behind only its year-ago debut coming out of the "S.H.I.E.L.D." opener on a Tuesday at 9:00 p.m.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 10.9 million and 3.7/11 in AD18-49):

"Modern Family" shot to the top of the 9:00 p.m. half-hour in Adults 18-49, outdrawing its May finale in Total Viewers (+4% - 10.9 million vs. 10.5 million) and holding even in Adults 18-49 (3.7/11), drawing its largest audience in nearly 1 year and matching its best young adult number since November - since 10/16/13 and 11/13/13, respectively.

"Black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 10.8 million and 3.3/10 in AD18-49):

Dominating the 9:30 p.m. half-hour in Adults 18-49 (3.3/10), ABC's "Black-ish" delivered impressive retention of its "Modern Family" lead-in (99%/89%), marking the best-ever Total Viewer retention for a regular comedy debut in the slot and best in 5 years in young adults (since 9/23/09). In addition, "Black-ish" equaled ABC's top-rated Wednesday comedy debut since February 2011 - since 2/9/11. In addition, it was the highest-rated series debut on any network in Adults 18-49 since March with ABC's "Resurrection" on 3/9/14.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.6 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49):

ABC's most-heavily-recorded show on a percentage basis, ABC's "Nashville" was up from its May finale in Total Viewers (+8% - 5.6 million vs. 5.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (+15% - 1.5/5 vs. 1.3/4) to its best results since last December - since 12/4/13.

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.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2013-14 season for premiere telecast or an average for originals (excluding the premiere).

Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).

New Series: Based on similar series.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 09/24/14.