ABC Wins 3rd Straight Sweep Wednesday - The Goldbergs Spikes 43% Over its Year-Ago Finale in AD18-49

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.2 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): ABC won Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), ranking as the #1 broadcaster for the 3rd straight Wednesday of a May Sweep for the first time in 15 years - since May 2000. Once again delivering 3 of the Top 4 series on the night with Adults 18-49, Modern Family was Wednesday's #1 TV show for its 6th consecutive original, while black-ish and The Goldbergs ran #3 and #4, respectively, behind only Survivor. 2015 May Sweep Update: ABC has ranked as the #1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49 on 14 of 21 nights so far during the 2015 May Sweep.

· Season to date, ABC's Wednesday is up in both Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%) from the same point last year.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 7.0 million and 1.7/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm against Survivor, ABC's season finale of The Middle took second, outdelivering the season finale of Fox's Idol for the 8th week running in the half-hour among Adults 18-49 (+21% - 1.7/7 vs. 1.4/5) and beat its scripted competition on NBC by 70% (1.0/4 for The Mysteries of Laura). The Middle was steady week to week. Please Note: Last year's finale for The Middle was a 1-hour telecast on the final Wednesday of the season. On average, The Middle finished up for the season in both Total Viewers (+5% - 8.7 million vs. 8.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.4/8 vs. 2.3/7).

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 6.7 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49): Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 8:30pm (+18%), The Goldbergs season closer beat out Idol's finale in the slot for its 9th consecutive original (+33% - 2.0/7 vs. 1.5/5) and doubled NBC's The Mysteries of Laura (+100% - 1.0/3). The show was up over its week-ago Fast Affiliate numbers in Adults 18-49 (+5%) and Adults 18-34 (+9%).

· The Goldbergs spiked over its year-ago finale (4.0 million and 1.4/4 on 5/13/14) by 68% in Total Viewers and 43% in Adults 18-49. On average during its sophomore season, The Goldbergs improved its Wednesday half-hour for ABC by 56% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/9 vs. 1.8/5) and was up a sharp 27% from its freshman season average on Tuesday at 9pm (2.8/9 vs. 2.2/6).

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 8.1 million and 2.7/9 in AD18-49): Jumping over its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+35%), ABC's Modern Family shot up to win its half-hour by 59% over its closest competition (2.7/9 vs. 1.7/5 - Fox's American Idol). Season to date, Modern Family is up 3% in Total Viewers and even in Adults 18-49.

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.2 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49): In the 9:30pm slot, ABC's black-ish ranked #1 in its half-hour for the 4th week in a row, beating runner-up Fox's American Idol finale by 17% (2.1/6 vs. 1.8/6). The freshman comedy was up for the 2nd week in Adults 18-34 (+14%) to equal a 6-month high - since 11/19/14. Season to date, black-ish is improving its half-hour for ABC by 3.0 million viewers (8.6 million vs. 5.6 million) and by 43% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/9 vs. 2.1/6) over the comparable weeks last year. black-ish is the 2014-15 season's #1 new comedy in Adults 18-49.

Nashville (10-11pm - 4.7 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49): During the 10pm hour, Nashville's season finale beat CBS' season finale of CSI: Cyber in Adults 18-49 (+8% - 1.3/4 vs. 1.2/4). The ABC drama held was up 8% over its week-ago Fast Affiliate Adult 18-49 rating and gained 13% in Adults 18-34 to a 10-week high on the latter measure - since 3/4/15. The ABC drama was steady with its year-ago finale in Adults 18-49. On average for the season, Nashville finished up 7% in Total Viewers and held even in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Wednesday, May 13, 2015 (National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC Leads its 3rd Straight Wednesday in Adults 18-49, Standing as the No. 1 Broadcaster on 14 of 21 Nights So Far During the 2015 May Sweep

At 8pm, "The Middle" Finale Beats Fox's "Idol" Finale by 21% in Adults 18-49

"The Goldbergs" Spikes Over its Year-Ago Finale in Viewers and Young Adults

"Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for its 6th Straight Original

"black-ish" Wins its Slot for the 4th Week in a Row Among Adults 18-49

ABC's "Nashville" Finale is Up and Beats CBS' "CSI: Cyber" Finale in Adults 18-49

Wednesday (05/13/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections:

"The Middle": L3 = 8.7 mil/2.1 rtg, L7 = 9.2 mil/2.2 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.5 rtg

"The Goldbergs": L3 = 9.0 mil/2.6 rtg, L7 = 9.6 mil/2.8 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 3.2 rtg

"Modern Family": L3 = 12.1 mil/3.9 rtg, L7 = 13.5 mil/4.3rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 5.6 rtg

"black-ish": L3 = 8.4 mil/2.8 rtg, L7 = 9.0 mil/3.0 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 3.7 rtg

"Nashville": Live + 3 = 7.4 mil/1.9 rtg, L7 = 8.0 mil/2.1 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.6 rtg

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.2 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):

ABC won Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6), ranking as the No. 1 broadcaster for the 3rd straight Wednesday of a May Sweep for the first time in 15 years - since May 2000. Once again delivering 3 of the Top 4 series on the night with Adults 18-49, "Modern Family" was Wednesday's No. 1 TV show for its 6th consecutive original, while "black-ish" and "The Goldbergs" ran No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, behind only "Survivor." 2015 May Sweep Update: ABC has ranked as the No. 1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49 on 14 of 21 nights so far during the 2015 May Sweep.

· Season to date, ABC's Wednesday is up in both Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%) from the same point last year.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.0 million and 1.7/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "Survivor," ABC's season finale of "The Middle" took second, outdelivering the season finale of Fox's "Idol" for the 8th week running in the half-hour among Adults 18-49 (+21% - 1.7/7 vs. 1.4/5) and beat its scripted competition on NBC by 70% (1.0/4 for "The Mysteries of Laura"). "The Middle" was steady week to week. Please Note: Last year's finale for "The Middle" was a 1-hour telecast on the final Wednesday of the season.

· On average, "The Middle" finished up for the season in both Total Viewers (+5% - 8.7 million vs. 8.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.4/8 vs. 2.3/7).

"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 at 8:30 p.m. (+18%), "The Goldbergs" season closer beat out "Idol's" finale in the slot for its 9th consecutive original (+33% - 2.0/7 vs. 1.5/5) and doubled NBC's "The Mysteries of Laura" (+100% - 1.0/3). The show was up over its week-ago Fast Affiliate numbers in Adults 18-49 (+5%) and Adults 18-34 (+9%).

· "The Goldbergs" spiked over its year-ago finale (4.0 million and 1.4/4 on 5/13/14) by 68% in Total Viewers and 43% in Adults 18-49. On average during its sophomore season, "The Goldbergs" improved its Wednesday half-hour for ABC by 56% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/9 vs. 1.8/5) and was up a sharp 27% from its freshman season average on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. (2.8/9 vs. 2.2/6).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 8.1 million and 2.7/9 in AD18-49):

Jumping over its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+35%), ABC's "Modern Family" shot up to win its half-hour by 59% over its closest competition (2.7/9 vs. 1.7/5 - Fox's "American Idol").

· Season to date, "Modern Family" is up 3% in Total Viewers (12.1 million vs. 11.8 million) and even in Adults 18-49 (4.4/13).

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.2 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. slot, ABC's "black-ish" ranked No. 1 in its half-hour for the 4th week in a row, beating runner-up Fox's "American Idol" finale by 17% (2.1/6 vs. 1.8/6). The freshman comedy was up for the 2nd week in Adults 18-34 (+14%) to equal a 6-month high - since 11/19/14.

· Season to date, "black-ish" is improving its half-hour for ABC by 3.0 million viewers (8.6 million vs. 5.6 million) and by 43% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/9 vs. 2.1/6) over the comparable weeks last year. "black-ish" is the 2014-15 season's No. 1 new comedy in Adults 18-49.

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

During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Nashville" season finale beat CBS' season finale of "CSI: Cyber" in Adults 18-49 (+8% - 1.3/4 vs. 1.2/4). The ABC drama was up 8% over its week-ago Fast Affiliate Adult 18-49 rating and gained 13% in Adults 18-34 to a 10-week high on the latter measure - since 3/4/15. The show was steady with its year-ago finale in Adults 18-49.

· On average for the season, "Nashville" grew 7% in Total Viewers (7.5 million vs. 7.0 million) and held even in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7).

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 05/13/15.