ABC's Repeat Comedies Hit Highs on Wednesday/"Off the Map" is #1 in Key Demos

Some early points on ABC's Wednesday, ahead of the regular press release.

With a mix of 3 repeat and 2 original programs, up against Fox's 2-hour American Idol, CBS' all-original line-up and NBC's mostly original line-up, ABC ranked #2 Wednesday night in Adults 18-49, tying CBS and beating out fourth-place NBC by 50%. ABC also took second on the evening with Adults 18-34, Men 18-49 and Women 18-34. Once again, the Net grew by strong margins over the same Wednesday last year opposite Idol (1/27/10) in both Total Viewers (+18%) and Adults 18-49 (+24%).

At 8pm, ABC's repeat The Middle defeated its original non-Idol competition in viewers and young adults. Among Adults 18-49, The Middle replay topped NBC's first-run Minute to Win It by 54% and CBS' first-run Live to Dance by 82%. The Middle produced its most-watched-ever repeat telecast on the night.

At 8:30pm, a special repeat of The Middle also bested its non-Idol competition in viewers and young adults, leading the second half hours of Minute to Win It (+40%) and Live to Dance (+91%) by huge margins in Adults 18-49. The ABC sophomore comedy hit its highest-ever replay Adult 18-49 rating on the evening.

At 9pm, ABC's repeat Modern Family built on its lead-in against the third half-hour of Idol, generating the series' strongest-ever repeat numbers with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

At 9:30pm, against the final half-hour of Idol, ABC's Cougar Town beat out NBC's Chase by 19% in Total Viewers and by 75% in Adults 18-49.

ABC's Off the Map took second place in the 10 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49, while finishing #1 with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. In fact the new ABC drama surged 11% week to week with Women 18-34.

Quick Take for Wednesday, January 26, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

With Strong Results from its Repeat Comedies Against Original Competition, ABC Ranks No. 2 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49, Marking Big Year-to-Year Increases

Drawing its Biggest-Ever Repeat Audience on the Evening, ABC's "The Middle" Dominates Original Competition on CBS and NBC at 8pm

At 8:30pm, a Special Replay "The Middle" Hits a High on the Night in Adults 18-49

"Modern Family" Scores the Series' Strongest-Ever Repeat Numbers

"Cougar Town" Towers Over NBC's "Chase" at 9:30pm in Viewers and Young Adults

ABC's "Off the Map" Ranks No. 1 in the 10pm Hour with Adults 18-34 And Women 18-34, Surging by 11% on the Latter Nielsen Measure

Wednesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

With a mix of 3 repeat and 2 original programs, up against Fox's 2-hour "American Idol," CBS' all-original lineup and NBC's mostly original lineup, ABC ranked No. 2 on Wednesday night in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6), tying CBS and beating out fourth-place NBC by 50% (1.4/4). ABC also took second on the evening with Adults 18-34, Men 18-49 and Women 18-34.

· The Net grew by strong margins over the same Wednesday last year opposite "Idol" (1/27/10) in both Total Viewers (+20% - 6.0 million vs. 5.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+24% - 2.1/6 vs. 1.7/5).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "The Middle" defeated its original non-"Idol" competition in viewers and young adults. Among Adults 18-49, "The Middle" (2.0/6) replay topped NBC's first-run "Minute to Win It" by 54% (1.3/4) and CBS' first-run "Live to Dance" by 82% (1.1/3).

· "The Middle" produced its most-watched-ever repeat telecast (7.0 million) on the night.

"The Middle-SP" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

At 8:30 p.m., a special repeat of "The Middle" also bested its non-"Idol" competition in viewers (6.6 million) and young adults (2.1/6), leading the second half hours of "Minute to Win It" (+40% - 1.5/4) and "Live to Dance" (+91% - 1.1/3) by huge margins in Adults 18-49.

· The ABC sophomore comedy hit its highest-ever replay Adult 18-49 rating on the evening.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "Modern Family" built on its lead-in against the third half-hour of Idol, generating the series' strongest-ever repeat numbers with Total Viewers (7.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.6/7).

"Cougar Town" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

At 9:30pm, against the final half-hour of Idol, ABC's "Cougar Town" beat out NBC's "Chase" by 19% in Total Viewers (5.1 million vs. 4.3 million) and by 75% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/5 vs. 1.2/3).

"Off the Map" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Off the Map" took second place in the 10 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (1.8/5), while finishing No. 1 with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· The new ABC drama surged 11% week to week with Women 18-34 (2.1/6 vs. 1.9/6).

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 39% currently, from 35% at the same point in 2010. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 1/19/11.