ABC's The Middle is 1st Scripted Show to Build on its Premiere - Modern Family Significantly Narrows the Gap with Empire

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.6 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49): After Fox's Empire, ABC delivered 3 of the Top 4 next-highest-rated TV shows on Wednesday with Modern Family (2.9/9), The Goldbergs (2.3/8 -tied with Survivor) and The Middle (2.2/8). Modern Family significantly narrowed the Adult 18-49 gap with Empire, cutting it by a whole rating point week to week (-2.5 points vs -3.5 points). From 8-10pm, ABC's Wednesday comedy block took 2nd in Adults 18-49 (2.3/8) to Fox's lineup (Rosewood/Empire), beating CBS (2.2/7) and NBC (1.5/5).

· Defying ratings gravity, The Middle was up from its strong week-ago premiere in Adults 18-49 (+5%) to match its best rating since the beginning of January - since 1/7/15. In fact, The Middle became the first scripted series to build on its premiere this season in L+SD Adults 18-49.

· Despite facing debut/premiere competition at 10pm on CBS (Code Black) and NBC (Chicago P.D.), ABC's Nashville held even with its week-earlier opener in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4). Also worth noting, in the Live + 3 Day ratings the heavily dvr'd premiere of Nashville spiked 75% over is L+SD rating, growing to a 2.1 rating.

· Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 8:30pm, The Goldbergs held 96% of its week-ago premiere (2.3/8 vs. 2.4/8) and topped its year-ago telecast by 5% (2.2/7 on 10/1/14).

Wednesday (9/30/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections, including Multiplatform + 35 Days

The Middle: L3 = 9.8 million/2.7 rating, L7 = 10.5 million/2.8 rating and MP+35 = 4.1 rating

The Goldbergs: L3 = 9.9 million/3.0 rating, L7 = 10.6 million/3.2 rating and MP+35 = 4.1 rating

Modern Family: L3 = 12.8 million/4.2 rating, L7 = 14.3 million/4.6 rating and MP+35 = 6.0 rating

Black-ish: Live + 3 = 8.1 million/2.4 rating, L7 = 8.8 million/2.6 rating and MP+35 = 3.0 rating

Nashville: Live + 3 = 7.5 million/1.8 rating, L7 = 8.2 million/1.9 rating and MP+35 = 2.5 rating

Quick Take for Wednesday, September 30, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's 2-Hour Wednesday Comedy Block Beats CBS and NBC in Adults 18-49

"The Middle" Emerges as the Season's 1st Scripted Series to Build on its Premiere

"The Goldbergs" Builds on its Year-Ago Telecast in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

"Modern Family" Cuts the Gap with "Empire" by 1.0 Rating Point Week to Week

"black-ish" Beats "Criminal Minds" and "L&O: SVU" in its Slot with Key Adults

Against CBS and NBC 10pm Drama Premieres, "Nashville" Grows in Adults 25-54

Wednesday (09/30/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections:

"The Middle": L3 = 9.8 million/2.7 rating, L7 = 10.5 million/2.8 rating and MP+35 = 4.1 rating

"The Goldbergs": L3 = 9.9 million/3.0 rating, L7 = 10.6 million/3.2 rating and MP+35 = 4.1 rating

"Modern Family": L3 = 12.8 million/4.2 rating, L7 = 14.3 million/4.6 rating and MP+35 = 6.0 rating

"black-ish": Live + 3 = 8.1 million/2.4 rating, L7 = 8.8 million/2.6 rating and MP+35 = 3.0 rating

"Nashville": Live + 3 = 7.5 million/1.8 rating, L7 = 8.2 million/1.9 rating and MP+35 = 2.5 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.6 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

After Fox's "Empire," ABC delivered 3 of the Top 4 next-highest-rated TV shows on Wednesday with "Modern Family" (2.9/9), "The Goldbergs" (2.3/8 - tied with "Survivor") and "The Middle" (2.2/8). "Modern Family" significantly narrowed the Adult 18-49 gap with "Empire," cutting it by a whole rating point week to week (-2.5 points vs -3.5 points). From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's Wednesday comedy block took 2nd in Adults 18-49 (2.3/8) to Fox's lineup ("Rosewood"/"Empire"), beating CBS (2.2/7) and NBC (1.5/5).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.9 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49):

Defying ratings gravity at 8:00 p.m., "The Middle" was up from its strong week-ago premiere in Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.2/8 vs. 2.1/8) to match its best rating since the beginning of January - since 1/7/15. In fact, "The Middle" became the season's first scripted series (returning or new) to build on its premiere in L+SD Adults 18-49. The ABC comedy was up from its year-ago telecast in viewers (+11%) and young adults (+16%).

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 7.4 million and 2.3/8 in AD18-49):

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+5%) at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Goldbergs" held 96% of its week-ago premiere rating (2.3/8 vs. 2.4/8). In addition, the show retained 100% in Adults 18-34 to tie a 1-year high and grew 6% on its opener with Women 18-34 to its best number since March - since 9/24/14 and 3/4/15, respectively. Like its lead-in, "The Goldbergs" topped its year-ago telecast in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 8.6 million and 2.9/9 in AD18-49):

Surging from its lead-in against the first half-hour of Fox's "Empire" at 9:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49 (+26%), ABC's "Modern Family" ran a strong No. 2 in its half-hour across all key demographics.

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.0 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "black-ish" beat the second half-hour of CBS' "Criminal Minds" premiere in Adults 18-34 (+9% - 1.2/4 vs. 1.1/4) and the second half-hour of NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" in Adults 25-54 (+14% - 2.4/6 vs. 2.1/5).

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.8 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):

Despite facing debut/premiere competition at 10:00 p.m. on CBS ("Code Black") and NBC ("Chicago P.D."), ABC's "Nashville" held even with its week-earlier opener in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4) and grew in Adults 25-54 (+7%). Against the CBS and NBC drama premieres, ABC's younger skewing "Nashville" ranked No. 2 in the hour with Women 18-34 and No. 1 with Teens 12-17.

· Season Premiere Playback: In the Live + 3 Day ratings, the heavily dvr'd premiere of "Nashville" spiked 75% over its L+SD rating, growing to a 2.1 rating. In fact, it was the biggest-ever premiere lift for the show.

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 48% 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 09/23/15.