Goldbergs Ties a Season High and Beats Survivor - ABC's Wednesday is Up Week to Week and Year to Year

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): Rising 10% week to week, ABC finished a strong second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7) to Fox with originals of Idol and Empire, outdelivering CBS' season premieres by 16% (1.9/6 for Survivor/Amazing Race) and NBC's original dramas by 47% (1.5/4). Gaining viewers (+5%) and young adults (+10%), the Net equaled an 8-week Wednesday high in Adults 18-49 - since 12/31/14.

· Growing year to year in each half-hour of prime, ABC spiked over the year-ago final Wednesday of the February Sweep (5.9 million and 1.8/5 on 2/26/14) by 15% in Total Viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 7.4 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm against Idol, The Middle dominated its NBC scripted competition in Adults 18-49 (+43% over The Mysteries of Laura - 2.0/7 vs. 1.4/5) and paced not far behind CBS' season premiere of Survivor (2.3/8). The Middle topped its year-ago telecast (7.0 million and 1.7/5) by 6% in Total Viewers and by 18% in Adults 18-49.

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 7.5 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49): Building on its lead-in by a best-ever 25% at 8:30pm (also built for the first time ever in Total Viewers), The Goldbergs was the scripted leader in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8) and beat out CBS' Survivor premiere in the half hour by 9% (2.3/7). Up week to week in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), The Goldbergs equaled a season high with young adults to tie the series' 2nd-highest rating ever. The ABC sophomore comedy boosted its slot from the year ago night by wide margins (Suburgatory = 5.2 million and 1.4/4) in viewers (+44%) and young adults (+79%).

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.3 million and 3.4/10 in AD18-49): At 9pm opposite Empire, Modern Family spiked over its lead-in by 36% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/10) to rank as the #2 TV show of the night. Modern Family jumped week to week in viewers (+6%) and young adults (+10%) to match its best Adult 18-49 number in more than 3 months - since 11/19/14. Modern was up from its year-ago telecast (8.5 million and 3.1/9) by 9% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49 and season to date is growing on both measures (+3%/+2%).

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.7 million and 2.3/6 in AD18-49): Despite facing increased competition in the 9:30pm half-hour from Empire, black-ish gained viewers (+5% - 6.7 million) and was up for its 3rd straight original in Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.3/6) for its strongest young adult performance in over 3 months - since 11/19/14. The freshman ABC comedy earned second in the slot among young adults. black-ish was up sharply from the year-ago debut of Mixology in the half-hour (5.0 million and 1.7/5 on 2/26/14) in Total Viewers (+34%) and Adults 18-49 (+35%).

Nashville (10-11pm - 4.9 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49): Rising week to week at 10pm in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+8%), ABC's Nashville tied its highest Adult 18-49 rating since December - since 12/10/14. In addition, the ABC drama topped its year-ago telecast (4.8 million and 1.3/4) by 2% in Total Viewers and by 8% in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Wednesday, February 25, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Against Big Competition, ABC's Wednesday is Up Week to Week and Year to Year

"The Middle" Builds Sharply on its Year-Ago Telecast in Viewers and Young Adults

"The Goldbergs" Spikes Over its Lead-in, Beats "Survivor" and Equals a Season High

"Modern Family" is Up 10% to Tie its Best Young Adult Rating Since November

Gaining for its 3rd Straight Original, "black-ish" Hits a More than 3-Month High

"Nashville" Grows 8% to Match its Best Adult 18-49 Number Since December

Wednesday (02/25/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections:

"The Middle": Live + 3 = 8.9 million/2.4 rating and Live + 7 = 9.4 million/2.5 rating

"The Goldbergs": Live + 3 = 10.4 million/3.4 rating and Live + 7 = 11.2 million/3.6 rating

"Modern Family": Live + 3 = 13.5 million/4.8 rating and Live + 7 = 15.0 million/5.3 rating

"black-ish": Live + 3 = 9.2 million/3.1 rating and Live + 7 = 9.8 million/3.3 rating

"Nashville": Live + 3 = 7.8 million/2.1 rating and Live + 7 = 8.6 million/2.4 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

Rising 10% week to week, ABC finished a strong second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7) to Fox with originals of "American Idol" and "Empire," outdelivering CBS' season premieres by 16% (1.9/6 for "Survivor"/"The Amazing Race") and NBC's original dramas by 47% (1.5/4). Gaining viewers (+5%) and young adults (+10%), the Net equaled an 8-week Wednesday high in Adults 18-49 - since 12/31/14.

· Growing year to year in each half-hour of prime, ABC spiked over the year-ago final Wednesday of the February Sweep (5.9 million and 1.8/5 on 2/26/14) by 15% in Total Viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.4 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "Idol," "The Middle" dominated its NBC scripted competition in Adults 18-49 (+43% over "The Mysteries of Laura" - 2.0/7 vs. 1.4/5) and paced not far behind CBS' season premiere of "Survivor" (2.3/8).

· "The Middle" topped its year-ago telecast (7.0 million and 1.7/5) by 6% in Total Viewers and by 18% in Adults 18-49.

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 7.5 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49):

Building on its lead-in by a best-ever 25% at 8:30 p.m. (and for the first time ever in Total Viewers), "The Goldbergs" was the scripted leader in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8) and beat out CBS' "Survivor" premiere in the half-hour by 9% (2.3/7).

· Up week to week in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), "The Goldbergs" equaled a season high with young adults to tie the series' 2nd-highest rating ever.

· The ABC sophomore comedy boosted its slot from the year-ago night by wide margins ("Suburgatory" = 5.2 million and 1.4/4) in viewers (+44%) and young adults (+79%).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.3 million and 3.4/10 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 (3.4/10) to rank as the No. 2 TV show of the night.

· "Modern Family" jumped week to week in viewers (+6%) and young adults (+10%) to match its best Adult 18-49 number in more than 3 months - since 11/19/14.

· "Modern" was up from its year-ago telecast (8.5 million and 3.1/9) by 9% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49, and season to date is growing on both measures (+3%/+2%).

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.7 million and 2.3/6 in AD18-49):

Despite facing increased competition in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour from "Empire," ABC's "black-ish" gained viewers week to week (+5% - 6.7 million) and was up for its 3rd straight original in Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.3/6) for its strongest young adult performance in over 3 months - since 11/19/14. The freshman ABC comedy earned second in the slot among young adults.

· "black-ish" was up sharply from the year-ago debut of "Mixology" in the half-hour (5.0 million and 1.7/5 on 2/26/14) in Total Viewers (+34%) and Adults 18-49 (+35%).

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.9 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

Rising week to week at 10:00 p.m. in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+8%), ABC's "Nashville" tied its highest Adult 18-49 rating since December - since 12/10/14. "Nashville" ran in a near three-way tie for No. 1 in the hour among young adults (1.4/4), with the ABC drama just 1-tenth of a rating point behind NBC's "Chicago P.D." (1.5/5) and CBS' "Amazing Race" premiere (1.5/4). "Nashville" won the 10 o'clock hour in key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49).

· The ABC drama topped its year-ago telecast (4.8 million and 1.3/4) by 2% in Total Viewers and by 8% in 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 02/25/15.