ABC's black-ish Builds for the 2nd Week to a 2-Month High in AD18-49

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

The Middle: Live + 3 = 9.2 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 9.8 million/2.8 rating

The Goldbergs: Live + 3 = 9.5 million/3.0 rating and Live + 7 = 10.2 million/3.2 rating

Modern Family: Live + 3 = 12.8 million/4.2 rating and Live + 7 = 14.2 million/4.7 rating

black-ish: Live + 3 = 8.8 million/2.9 rating and Live + 7 = 9.5 million/3.1 rating

Nashville: Live + 3 = 7.5 million/1.9 rating and Live + 7 = 8.3 million/2.1 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.5 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49): ABC continued to run a strong second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6) to Fox with originals of Idol and Empire, dominating original drama lineups on NBC by 43% (1.4/4) and CBS by 54% (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 - 7.7 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm against Idol, The Middle gained 5% week to week and was the dominant scripted show in its slot in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), leading CBS' series finale of The Mentalist by 69% (1.3/4) and NBC's The Mysteries of Laura by 100% (1.1/4).

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 6.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): At 8:30pm, The Goldbergs (2.2/7) was steady week to week in Adults 18-49, and like its lead-in dominated its scripted competition in the half-hour on CBS (+69% - 1.3/4) and NBC (+120% - 1.0/3). On average season to date in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, The Goldbergs is improving its time period by impressive margins (+24%/+42%) and is also up by double digits over its own delivery at this point in its freshman season on Tuesday at 9pm (+24%/+13%).

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 8.8 million and 3.0/9 in AD18-49): At 9pm opposite Empire, Modern Family spiked over its lead-in by 36% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/9), doubling NBC's L&O: SVU (+100% - 1.5/4) and more than doubling CBS' The Mentalist (+131% - 1.3/4). Modern Family is up season to date in Total Viewers (+2%).

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.5 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49): Despite facing increased competition in the 9:30pm half-hour from Empire, black-ish was up for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.2/6) for its strongest performance in over 2 months - since 12/10/14. The freshman ABC comedy took second in the slot among young adults. black-ish spiked sharply in the half-hour from the year-ago night with an original Super Fun Night (2.7 million and 0.9/3 on 2/19/14), and on average season to date, the new comedy is growing its time period for ABC by 48% in Total Viewers and by 35% in Adults 18-49.

Nashville (10-11pm - 4.7 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49): At 10pm, ABC's Nashville tied CBS' Stalker in the hour among Adults 18-49 (1.3/4). The ABC drama was on par with its week-ago delivery in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.4/4).

Quick Take for Wednesday, February 18, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"The Middle" is Up in Adults 18-49 and Dominates its Scripted Competition

"The Goldbergs" Scores Impressive Growth Over its Year-Ago Benchmarks

"Modern" Surges Over its Lead-in to Double its NBC and CBS Competition

"black-ish" is Up for the 2nd Week to its Highest Rating in Over 2 Months

"Nashville" Catches CBS' "Stalker" in the 10pm Hour Among Adults 18-49

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

"The Middle": Live + 3 = 9.2 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 9.8 million/2.8 rating

"The Goldbergs": Live + 3 = 9.5 million/3.0 rating and Live + 7 = 10.2 million/3.2 rating

"Modern Family": Live + 3 = 12.8 million/4.2 rating and Live + 7 = 14.2 million/4.7 rating

"black-ish": Live + 3 = 8.8 million/2.9 rating and Live + 7 = 9.5 million/3.1 rating

"Nashville": Live + 3 = 7.5 million/1.9 rating and Live + 7 = 8.3 million/2.1 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):

ABC continued to run a strong second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6) to Fox with originals of "Idol" and "Empire," dominating original drama lineups on NBC by 43% (1.4/4) and CBS by 54% (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. - 7.7 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. opposite "Idol," "The Middle" gained 5% week to week and was the dominant scripted show in its slot in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), leading CBS' series finale of "The Mentalist" by 69% (1.3/4) and NBC's "The Mysteries of Laura" by 100% (1.1/4).

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 6.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., "The Goldbergs" (2.2/7) was steady week to week in Adults 18-49, and like its lead-in dominated its scripted competition in the half-hour on CBS (+69% - 1.3/4) and NBC (+120% - 1.0/3).

· On average season to date in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "The Goldbergs" is improving its time period by impressive margins (+24%/+42%) and is also up by double digits over its own delivery at this point in its freshman season on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. (+24%/+13%).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 8.8 million and 3.0/9 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m. opposite "Empire," ABC's "Modern Family" spiked over its lead-in by 36% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/9), doubling NBC's "L&O: SVU" (+100% - 1.5/4) and more than doubling CBS' "The Mentalist" (+131% - 1.3/4).

· "Modern Family" is up season to date in Total Viewers (+2%).

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49):

Despite facing increased competition in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour from "Empire," ABC's "black-ish" was up for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.2/6) to earn its top rating in over 2 months - since 12/10/14. The freshman ABC comedy took second in the slot among young adults.

· "black-ish" spiked sharply in the half-hour from the year-ago night with an original "Super Fun Night" (2.7 million and 0.9/3 on 2/19/14), and on average season to date, the new comedy is growing its time period for ABC by 48% in Total Viewers and by 35% in Adults 18-49.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.7 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):

At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Nashville" caught CBS' "Stalker" in the hour among Adults 18-49 (1.3/4). The ABC drama was on par with its week-ago delivery in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.4/4).

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 02/18/15.