ABC's Wednesday Comedy Block Surges Year to Year - blackish is Up in Viewers, Teens and Kids

Wednesday (01/14/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

The Middle: Live + 3 = 9.4 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 10.0 million/2.8 rating

The Goldbergs: Live + 3 = 10.2 million/3.2 rating and Live + 7 = 10.9 million/3.4 rating

Modern Family: Live + 3 = 13.5 million/4.2 rating and Live + 7 = 14.9 million/4.7 rating

black-ish: Live + 3 = 8.8 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 9.4 million/2.8 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.2 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): With its 8-10pm comedies and a repeat of Forever in the 10pm hour, ABC ranked second Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6) to Fox with originals of Idol and Empire, beating original drama lineups on CBS by 6% (1.7/5) and NBC by 38% (1.3/4). Continuing to build year to year, ABC's 2-hour comedy block surged from the year-ago night by 17% in Total Viewers (7.7 million vs. 6.6 million) and by 20% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 2.0/6).

· On average season to date, ABC's 2-hour Wednesday comedy block leads its 8-10pm time period by 12% in Adults 18-49 over its nearest competition (CBS). The comedy block is growing year to year in viewers (+13%) and young adults (+13%) to its biggest-ever audience and a 3-year high in Adults 18-49. ABC's 2-hour comedy block on the night started with the 2009-10 season.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 7.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm against Idol, The Middle was the top-scripted show in its slot among young adults and held steady week to week (2.2/7 vs. 2.3/7). In addition, the show spiked 22% over its year-ago telecast in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6 on 1/15/14).

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 7.2 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49): At 8:30pm, The Goldbergs built on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+5%) and was also the top scripted show in its slot. The sophomore comedy once again paced way ahead of its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, improving its half-hour year to year for ABC by 44% (1.6/5 for the season premiere of Suburgatory on 1/15/14) and besting its own year-ago Tuesday 9pm telecast by 28% (1.8/5 on 1/14/14). Season to date, the show is up from its year-ago Tuesday averages by 26% in Total Viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49.

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.3 million and 3.0/9 in AD18-49): At 9pm, Modern Family grew week to week and year to year in Total Viewers (9.3 million vs. 9.1 million on 1/15/14). Season to date, Modern Family is up in viewers (+5%) and young adults (+2%).

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.6 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49): Despite increased competition in the 9:30pm half-hour from Empire, black-ish was up week to week in Total Viewers (+6% - 6.6 million vs. 6.2 million) and held steady in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 2.1/6). In addition, the show jumped by double digits in Teens 12-17 (+18%) and Kids 2-11 (+14%), hitting its best number since November on the latter measure - since 11/12/14. black-ish boosted its slot year to year for ABC, topping the year-ago telecast of Super Fun Night (on 1/15/14) by 50% in Total Viewers (6.6 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 1.5/4).

Quick Take for Wednesday, January 14, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Wednesday Comedy Block Surges by Double-Digits Year to Year

"The Middle" Spikes by 22% from its Year-Ago Telecast in Adults 18-49

"The Goldbergs" Builds on its Lead-in and Jumps Over its Year-Ago Benchmarks

"Modern Family" Gains Total Viewers Week to Week and Year to Year

"black-ish" Boosts its Time Slot by 50% in Viewers and by 33% in Adults 18-49

Wednesday (01/14/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"The Middle:" Live + 3 = 9.4 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 10.0 million/2.8 rating

"The Goldbergs:" Live + 3 = 10.2 million/3.2 rating and Live + 7 = 10.9 million/3.4 rating

"Modern Family:" Live + 3 = 13.5 million/4.2 rating and Live + 7 = 14.9 million/4.7 rating

"black-ish:" Live + 3 = 8.8 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 9.4 million/2.8 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.2 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):

With its 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedies and a repeat of "Forever" in the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC ranked second Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6) to Fox with originals of "Idol" and "Empire," beating original drama lineups on CBS by 6% (1.7/5) and NBC by 38% (1.3/4). Continuing to build year to year, ABC's 2-hour comedy block surged from the year-ago night by 17% in Total Viewers (7.7 million vs. 6.6 million) and by 20% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 2.0/6).

· On average season to date, ABC's 2-hour Wednesday comedy block leads its 8:00-10:00 p.m. time period by 12% in Adults 18-49 over its nearest competition (CBS). The comedy block is growing year to year in viewers (+13%) and young adults (+13%) to its biggest-ever audience and a 3-year high in Adults 18-49. ABC's 2-hour comedy block on the night started with the 2009-10 season.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "Idol," ABC's "The Middle" was the top-scripted show in its slot among young adults and held steady week to week (2.2/7 vs. 2.3/7). In addition, the show spiked 22% over its year-ago telecast in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6 on 1/15/14).

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 7.2 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., "The Goldbergs" built on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+5%) to also rank as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot. The sophomore comedy once again paced way ahead of its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, improving its half-hour year to year for ABC by 44% (1.6/5 for the season premiere of "Suburgatory" on 1/15/14) and besting its own year-ago Tuesday 9:00 p.m. telecast by 28% (1.8/5 on 1/14/14).

· Season to date, "The Goldbergs" is up from its year-ago Tuesday averages by 26% in Total Viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.3 million and 3.0/9 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" gained week to week and year to year in Total Viewers (9.3 million vs. 9.1 million on 1/15/14). Season to date, "Modern Family" is up in viewers (+5%) and young adults (+2%).

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.6 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):

Despite increased competition from "Empire" in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, "black-ish" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+6% - 6.6 million vs. 6.2 million) and held steady in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 2.1/6). In addition, the family comedy jumped by double digits in Teens 12-17 (+18%) and Kids 2-11 (+14%), hitting its best number since November on the latter measure - since 11/12/14.

· "black-ish" boosted its slot year to year for ABC, topping the year-ago telecast of "Super Fun Night" (on 1/15/14) by 50% in Total Viewers (6.6 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 1.5/4).

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 49% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate Nielsen measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 01/14/15.