ABC's Wednesday Comedy Block Wins from 8-10pm in AD18-49 - Modern Family is the #1 TV Show

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.2 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49): With its comedies returning to original for the first time in 3 weeks and the special Nashville: On the Record 2, ABC finished a strong #2 during Wednesday's primetime in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6-tie). The Net ranked #1 from 8-10pm with its comedy block (2.2/7) by 5% over CBS (Survivor/Criminal Minds = 2.1/7), by 29% over Fox's 2-hour American Idol (1.7/6) and by 100% over NBC (The Mysteries of Laura/L&O: SVU = 1.1/4).

· ABC's Modern Family was Wednesday's #1 TV show in Adults 18-49 (2.8/9), while black-ish (2.1/7) and The Goldbergs (2.0/7-tie) came in #3 and #4, respectively, behind only CBS' Survivor. At 9:30pm, black-ish ranked #1 in Adults 18-49. At 8:30pm, The Goldbergs beat Idol for its 2nd straight original in Adults 18-49, increasing its advantage to 18%, up from a 9% advantage three weeks ago.

· On average season to date, ABC's 2-hour Wednesday comedy block is growing by double digits year to year in viewers (+17%) and young adults (+18%), drawing its biggest audience ever and a 3-year high in Adults 18-49.

... more to come.

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

ABC's Wednesday Comedy Block Wins From 8-10pm in Adults 18-49

"The Middle" Defeats its Nearest Scripted Competition by 80% at 8pm

"The Goldbergs" Beats "Idol" and Delivers Strong Year-to-Year Growth for ABC

"Modern Family" Dominates at 9pm and Ranks as Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show

"black-ish" Wins the 9:30pm Half-Hour and Boosts its Slot Year Over Year

Wednesday (03/25/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections:

"The Middle:" Live + 3 = 8.7 million/2.1 rating and Live + 7 = 9.3 million/2.3 rating

"The Goldbergs:" Live + 3 = 9.3 million/2.7 rating and Live + 7 = 10.0 million/2.9 rating

"Modern Family:" Live + 3 = 12.4 million/4.0 rating and Live + 7 = 13.8 million/4.4 rating

"black-ish:" Live + 3 = 8.8 million/2.8 rating and Live + 7 = 9.5 million/3.0 rating

"Nashville: On the Record 2:" Live + 3 = 5.7 million/1.1 rating and Live + 7 = 6.4 million/1.2 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.2 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49):

With its comedies returning to original for the first time in 3 weeks and the special "Nashville: On the Record 2," ABC finished a strong No. 2 during Wednesday's primetime in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6-tie). The Net ranked No. 1 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. with its comedy block (2.2/7) by 5% over CBS ("Survivor"/"Criminal Minds" = 2.1/7), by 29% over Fox's 2-hour "American Idol" (1.7/6) and by 100% over NBC ("The Mysteries of Laura"/"L&O: SVU" = 1.1/4).

· ABC's "Modern Family" was Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 (2.8/9), while "black-ish" (2.1/7) and "The Goldbergs" (2.0/7-tie) came in at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, behind only CBS' "Survivor."

· On average season to date, ABC's 2-hour Wednesday comedy block is growing by double digits year to year in viewers (+17%) and young adults (+18%), drawing its biggest audience ever and a 3-year high in Adults 18-49.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.2 million and 1.8/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "Survivor," "The Middle" caught "Idol" in the half-hour among Adults 18-49 (1.8/7) and beat its scripted competition by 80% (NBC's "The Mysteries of Laura" = 1.0/4).

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 6.7 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in by 11% at 8:30 p.m., "The Goldbergs" beat "Idol" for its 2nd straight original (2.0/7 vs. 1.7/6), increasing its lead to 18% from a 9% advantage on its most recent original 3 weeks ago.

· The ABC sophomore comedy boosted its slot from the year ago night by wide margins ("Suburgatory" = 4.9 million and 1.4/5 on 3/26/14) in viewers (+37%) and young adults (+43%).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 8.5 million and 2.8/9 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., Wednesday's top-rated show in Adults 18-49, "Modern Family," spiked over its lead-in to win its half-hour by 40% over runner-up "Criminal Minds" (2.8/9 vs. 2.0/6).

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):

ABC's "black-ish" won the 9:30 p.m. half-hour in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7). The freshman ABC comedy delivered strong year-to-year time-period improvement in the half-hour ("Mixology" = 4.6 million and 1.6/5 on 3/26/14) in Total Viewers (+41%) and Adults 18-49 (+31%).

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 03/25/15.