ABC's black-ish Returns Up to its Best Numbers in 2 Months - Nashville Gains at 10pm

Wednesday (02/11/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

The Middle: Live + 3 = 9.5 million/2.5 rating and Live + 7 = 10.1 million/2.6 rating

The Goldbergs: Live + 3 = 9.7 million/3.1 rating and Live + 7 = 10.4 million/3.3 rating

Modern Family: Live + 3 = 14.2 million/4.7 rating and Live + 7 = 15.8 million/5.2 rating

black-ish: Live + 3 = 9.5 million/2.9 rating and Live + 7 = 10.2 million/3.1 rating

Nashville: Live + 3 = 8.2 million/2.1 rating and Live + 7 = 9.1 million/2.4 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 7.0 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49): With its 8-10pm comedy block and Nashville, ABC finished a strong second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7) to Fox with originals of Idol and Empire, beating out original drama lineups on CBS by 31% (1.6/5) and NBC by 62% (1.3/4).

· On average season to date, ABC's 8-10pm Wednesday comedy block is up year to year in viewers (+8%) and young adults (+10%) 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 - 7.9 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm against Idol, The Middle was the dominant scripted show in its slot in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7), leading CBS' The Mentalist by 40% (1.5/5) and NBC's The Mysteries of Laura by 110% (1.0/4). The ABC comedy was steady week to week with young adults (2.1/7 vs. 2.2/8).

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 6.9 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49): At 8:30pm, The Goldbergs (2.3/7) built on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+10%) to also dominate its scripted competition on CBS (+53% - 1.5/5) and NBC (+109% - 1.1/4). The show held even with its last original 4 weeks ago (2.3/7 on 1/14/15). On average season to date in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, The Goldbergs is improving its time period for ABC by wide margins (+20%/+47%) and is also up by double digits over its own performance in its freshman season on Tuesday at 9pm (+20%/+12%).

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.8 million and 3.3/10 in AD18-49): At 9pm opposite Empire, Modern Family shot up from its lead-in by 43% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/10), beating CBS' Criminal Minds by 65% (2.0/6) and NBC's L&O: SVU by 120% (1.5/4). Modern Family was steady week to week in Total Viewers (9.8 million vs. 9.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.3/10 vs. 3.4/10).

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.9 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49): Despite increased competition in the 9:30pm half-hour from Empire, on its first original in 4 weeks, black-ish returned up in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+16%) for its strongest performance in 2 months - since 12/10/14. black-ish was up sharply in the half-hour from the year-ago night from an original Super Fun Night (3.4 million and 1.3/3 on 2/12/14), and on average season to date the new ABC comedy is boosting its time period by 46% in Total Viewers and by 35% in Adults 18-49.

Nashville (10-11pm - 5.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49): At 10pm, ABC's Nashville tied for #1 in the hour among Adults 18-49 (1.4/4) and straight out won its time period with key Women (W18-34/W18-49). The ABC drama was up week to week in Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

Quick Take for Wednesday, February 11, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

At 8pm, ABC's "The Middle" Is the Dominant Scripted Show in Adults 18-49

"The Goldbergs" Delivers Double-Digit Growth Over Its Year-Ago Benchmarks

"Modern" Spikes Over Its Lead-in to Dominate Its CBS and NBC Competition

"black-ish" Returns Up to Deliver Its Highest Numbers in 2 Months

Gaining Week to Week, "Nashville" Ranks No. 1 at 10pm in Adults 18-49

Wednesday (02/11/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"The Middle": Live + 3 = 9.5 million/2.5 rating and Live + 7 = 10.1 million/2.6 rating

"The Goldbergs": Live + 3 = 9.7 million/3.1 rating and Live + 7 = 10.4 million/3.3 rating

"Modern Family": Live + 3 = 14.2 million/4.7 rating and Live + 7 = 15.8 million/5.2 rating

"black-ish": Live + 3 = 9.5 million/2.9 rating and Live + 7 = 10.2 million/3.1 rating

"Nashville": Live + 3 = 8.2 million/2.1 rating and Live + 7 = 9.1 million/2.4 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.0 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):

With its 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedy block and "Nashville," ABC finished a strong second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7) to Fox with originals of "Idol" and "Empire," beating out original drama lineups on CBS by 31% (1.6/5) and NBC by 62% (1.3/4).

· On average season to date, ABC's 8:00-10:00 p.m. Wednesday comedy block is up year to year in viewers (+8%) and young adults (+10%) 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. - 7.9 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "Idol," "The Middle" was the dominant scripted show in its slot with Adults 18-49 (2.1/7), leading CBS' "The Mentalist" by 40% (1.5/5) and NBC's "The Mysteries of Laura" by 110% (1.0/4). The ABC comedy was steady week to week with young adults (2.1/7 vs. 2.2/8).

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 6.9 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., "The Goldbergs" (2.3/7) built on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+10%) to also dominate its scripted competition on CBS (+53% - 1.5/5) and NBC (+109% - 1.1/4). The show held even with its last original 4 weeks ago (2.3/7 on 1/14/15).

· On average season to date in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "The Goldbergs" is improving its time period for ABC by wide margins (+20%/+47%) and is also up by double digits over its own performance in its freshman season on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. (+20%/+12%).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.8 million and 3.3/10 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m. opposite "Empire," ABC's "Modern Family" shot up from its lead-in by 43% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/10), beating CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 65% (2.0/6) and NBC's "L&O: SVU" by 120% (1.5/4). "Modern Family" held steady week to week in Total Viewers (9.8 million vs. 9.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.3/10 vs. 3.4/10).

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.9 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49):

Despite increased competition in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour from "Empire," on its first original in 4 weeks, "black-ish" returned up in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+16%) for its strongest performance in 2 months - since 12/10/14.

· "black-ish" was up sharply in the half-hour from the year-ago night from an original "Super Fun Night" (3.4 million and 1.3/3 on 2/12/14), and on average season to date, the new ABC comedy is boosting its time period by 46% in Total Viewers and by 35% in Adults 18-49.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Nashville" tied for No. 1 in the hour among Adults 18-49 (1.4/4) and straight out won its time period with key Women (W18-34/W18-49). The ABC drama was up week to week in Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

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 02/11/15.