ABC's Claims Season's Top 2 Comedy Debuts with black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 7.3 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): With the return of its 8-10pm comedies to originals (including the Fresh Off the Boat debut) and Nashville's first airing in 2 months (since 12/10/14), ABC ran a strong second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7) to Fox with originals of Idol and Empire, dominating original drama lineups on CBS by 47% (1.5/5) and NBC by 69% (1.3/4). The Net was up by double digits from the year-ago Feb Sweep Wednesday in Total Viewers (+11% - 7.3 million vs. 6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+16% - 2.2/7 vs. 1.9/5). In Adults 18-49, ABC marked its best Wednesday with series programming in 11 weeks - since 11/19/14.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 8.2 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm against Idol, The Middle was the top-scripted show in its slot with young adults. The show built on its most recent original 3 weeks ago (on 1/14/15) in Total Viewers (+5% - 8.2 million vs. 7.8 million) and held steady in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), matching its 2nd-highest young adult rating this season.

Fresh Off the Boat (8:30-9pm - 7.9 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49): At 8:30pm, ABC's series debut of Fresh Off the Boat built on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+14%) and was also the #1 scripted show in its slot. ABC now claims the season's Top 2 comedy debuts. Fresh Off the Boat opened as season's #2 new comedy in Adults 18-49, behind only ABC's black-ish coming out of Modern Family and topping NBC's The Voice-led debut of Marry Me.

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.9 million and 3.4/10 in AD18-49): At 9pm opposite Empire, Modern Family was up from its last original in Total Viewers (+5% - 9.9 million vs. 9.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+13% - 3.4/10 vs. 3.0/9), posting its strongest results since November - since 11/19/14. Season to date, Modern Family is up in viewers (+2%) and steady in young adults.

Fresh Off the Boat (9:30-10pm - 7.6 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49): Despite increased competition in the 9:30pm half-hour from Empire, a second episode of Fresh Off the Boat was on par with its premiere numbers in Total Viewers (7.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.4/7). Fresh Off the Boat greatly improved the 9:30pm half-hour for ABC, topping the year-ago telecast of Super Fun Night (on 2/5/14) by 65% in Total Viewers (7.6 million vs. 4.6 million) and by 60% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 1.5/4).

Nashville (10-11pm - 5.1 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49): During the 10pm hour on its first telecast in 2 months, ABC's Nashville tied CBS' Stalker in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4) and ranked #1 with Women 18-49 (tie). The ABC drama held steady with its year-ago telecast (5.2 million and 1.3/4 on 2/5/14) in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Wednesday, February 4, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Feb Sweep Wednesday Grows by Double Digits Year to Year in Viewers

"The Middle" Matches Its 2nd-Highest Rating This Season in Adults 18-49

"Fresh Off the Boat" Opens as the Season's No. 2 New Comedy in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Modern Family" Builds to Its Strongest Performance Since November

A Second Episode of "Fresh Off the Boat" Improves the Slot Year to Year by 60%

"Nashville" Returns Steady with Its Year-Ago Telecast in Viewers and Young Adults

Wednesday (02/04/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"The Middle": Live + 3 = 9.9 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 10.5 million/2.8 rating

"Fresh Off the Boat": Live + 3 = 10.1 million/3.1 rating and Live + 7 = 10.5 million/3.3 rating

"Modern Family": Live + 3 = 14.2 million/4.8 rating and Live + 7 = 15.7 million/5.3 rating

"Fresh Off the Boat": Live + 3 = 9.6 million/3.0 rating and Live + 7 = 10.0 million/3.2 rating

"Nashville": Live + 3 = 8.1 million/1.9 rating and Live + 7 = 9.0 million/2.1 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.3 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

With the return of its 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedies to originals (including the "Fresh Off the Boat" debut) and "Nashville's" first airing in 2 months (since 12/10/14), ABC ran a strong second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7) to Fox with originals of "Idol" and "Empire," dominating original drama lineups on CBS by 47% (1.5/5) and NBC by 69% (1.3/4).

· The Net was up by double digits from the year-ago February Sweep Wednesday in Total Viewers (+11% - 7.3 million vs. 6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+16% - 2.2/7 vs. 1.9/5). In Adults 18-49, ABC marked its best Wednesday with series programming in 11 weeks - since 11/19/14.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 8.2 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "Idol," "The Middle" was the top-scripted show in its slot with young adults. The ABC comedy built on its most recent original 3 weeks ago (on 1/14/15) in Total Viewers (+5% - 8.2 million vs. 7.8 million) and held steady in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), matching its 2nd-highest young adult rating this season.

"Fresh Off the Boat" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 7.9 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., ABC's series debut of "Fresh Off the Boat" built on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+14%) and was also the No. 1 scripted show in its slot (2.5/8). ABC now claims the season's Top 2 comedy debuts. "Fresh Off the Boat" opened as the season's No. 2 new comedy in Adults 18-49, behind only ABC's "black-ish" coming out of "Modern Family" and topping NBC's "The Voice"-led debut of "Marry Me."

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.9 million and 3.4/10 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m. opposite "Empire," ABC's "Modern Family" was up from its last original in Total Viewers (+5% - 9.9 million vs. 9.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+13% - 3.4/10 vs. 3.0/9), posting its strongest results since November - since 11/19/14. Season to date, "Modern Family" is up in viewers (+2%) and steady in young adults.

"Fresh Off the Boat" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 7.6 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):

Despite increased competition in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour from "Empire," a second episode of "Fresh Off the Boat" was on par with its premiere numbers in Total Viewers (7.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.4/7). "Fresh Off the Boat" greatly improved the half-hour for ABC year to year, topping the year-ago telecast of "Super Fun Night" (on 2/5/14) by 65% in Total Viewers (7.6 million vs. 4.6 million) and by 60% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 1.5/4).

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.1 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour on its first telecast in 2 months, ABC's "Nashville" tied CBS' "Stalker" in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4) and ranked No. 1 with Women 18-49 (tie). The ABC drama held steady with its year-ago telecast (5.2 million and 1.3/4 on 2/5/14) in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2014-15 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.

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 02/04/15.