ABC Wins Wednesday as the Net's Comedies Hit Series Highs

With its 2-hour Halloween-themed comedy block (including a repeat Modern Family) leading into Revenge, ABC finished a dominant #1 on Wednesday night among Adults 18-49, leading runner-up CBS by 22%. For the 6th week running this season, ABC delivered Wednesday's #1 TV show among Adults 18-49 with Modern Family.

· The Net exhibited substantial year-to-year gains on the evening for the 6th consecutive week, jumping over the year-ago Wednesday's all-original line-up in viewers (+20%) and young adults (+22%).

· ABC marked its 2nd most-watched Wednesday this season - best since season-premiere Wednesday (on 9/21/11).

Hitting series highs at 8pm, ABC's The Middle finished a strong #2 in its slot to Survivor in viewers and young adults, while ranking a definitive #1 in the half-hour and beating CBS reality show by wide margins in Adults 18-34 (+26%) and Women 18-34 (+50%).

· Posting its 4th straight week of Adult 18-49 growth, ABC's The Middle posted series-high numbers in Total Viewers and all key Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

· Rising year to year for the 6th week running, The Middle bettered its year-ago broadcast in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+7%).

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in for its 6th straight broadcast at 8:30pm (+10%) to achieve a series high, ABC's Suburgatory tied CBS' Survivor to finish #1 in the half-hour for the first time with Adults 18-49. The new ABC comedy also won its time period among Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· Suburgatory scored series highs in Total Viewers, young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) and Kids 2-11. In fact, the freshman comedy generated ABC's top series performance in the half-hour in nearly 2-1/2 years with Adults 18-49 - since 5/27/09.

· Suburgatory once again generated big improvement for the Net over the year-ago time period occupant (Better with You) in viewers (+27%) and young adults (+36%).

Increasing from on its lead-in at 9pm to dominate its slot with Adults 18-49 by 63% over CBS' encore Criminal Minds, ABC's repeat Modern Family registered as the evening's #1 TV program for the 6th straight week.

· Showing impressive retention of its year-ago original telecast viewers (87%) and young adults (86%), ABC's Modern Family posted its strongest-ever repeat performance. The third year ABC comedy surpassed its previous encore highs by 24% in Total Viewers and by 26% in Adults 18-49.

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's sophomore Happy Endings won its slot in Adults 18-49, while finishing as the #1 series in its slot for the 4th week running in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Jumping week to week in viewers (+22%) and young adults (+17%), ABC's Happy Endings hit series highs. In fact it was the 2nd time in 3 weeks for the ABC sophomore comedy to post series best results in the key young adult sales demo.

Building on its Total Viewer lead-in during the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's freshman drama Revenge took first place in its time period among Adults 18-49. In addition, Revenge was the #1 series in the hour for its 6th consecutive airing with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Growing week to week in viewers (+9%) and young adults (+12%), ABC's Revenge produced the series' 2nd-highest numbers ever. Continuing to show forward momentum, the new ABC drama marked its 3rd consecutive week of Total Viewer gains.

· For the freshman series' 6th straight telecast, Revenge tallied huge time-period improvement for ABC, catapulting over the year-ago night in viewers (+98%) and young adults (+155%). Revenge continues to qualify as ABC's most-watched series during Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour in more than 4 years - since Lost during the 2006-07 TV Season.

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

ABC Wins Wednesday Among Adults 18-49, as a Repeat "Modern Family" is the Night's No. 1 TV Show

ABC's "The Middle," "Suburgatory" and "Happy Endings" Score Series Highs, While "Modern Family" Generates its Strongest-Ever Repeat Performance

Posting its 2nd-Highest-Ever Numbers, "Revenge" Delivers Enormous Year-to-Year Time Slot Gains to Stand as ABC's Most-Watched Series in the Hour in Over 4 Years

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

With its 2-hour Halloween-themed comedy block (including a repeat "Modern Family") leading into "Revenge," ABC finished a dominant No. 1 on Wednesday night among Adults 18-49, leading runner-up CBS by 22% (3.3/9 vs. 2.7/8). For the 6th week running this season, ABC delivered Wednesday's No. 1 TV show among Adults 18-49 with "Modern Family."

· The Net exhibited substantial year-to-year gains on the evening for the 6th consecutive week, jumping over the year-ago Wednesday's all-original lineup (10/27/10) in viewers (+20% - 9.5 million vs. 7.9 million) and young adults (+22% - 3.3/9 vs. 2.7/8).

· ABC marked its 2nd-most-watched Wednesday this season - best since season-premiere Wednesday (on 9/21/11).

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

Hitting series highs at 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" finished a strong No. 2 in its slot to CBS' "Survivor: South Pacific" in viewers (10.2 million) and young adults (3.1/10), while ranking a definitive No. 1 in the half-hour and beating the CBS reality show by wide margins in Adults 18-34 (+26%) and Women 18-34 (+50%).

· Posting its 4th straight week of Adult 18-49 growth, ABC's "The Middle" posted series-high numbers in Total Viewers and all key Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

· Rising year to year for the 6th week running, "The Middle" bettered its year-ago broadcast (9.5 million and 2.9/9) in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+7%).

"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in for its 6th straight broadcast at 8:30 p.m. (+10%) to achieve a series high, ABC's "Suburgatory" tied CBS' "Survivor" to finish No. 1 in the half-hour for the first time with Adults 18-49 (3.4/9). The new ABC comedy also won its time period among Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· "Suburgatory" scored series highs in Total Viewers, young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) and Kids 2-11. In fact, the freshman comedy generated ABC's top series performance in the half-hour in nearly 2-1/2 years with Adults 18-49 - since 5/27/09.

· "Suburgatory" once again generated big improvement for the Net over the year-ago time period occupant ("Better with You") in viewers (+27% - 9.8 million vs. 7.7 million) and young adults (+36% - 3.4/9 vs. 2.5/7).

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

Increasing from its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. to dominate its slot with Adults 18-49 by 63% over CBS' encore "Criminal Minds" (4.4/12 vs. 2.7/7), ABC's repeat "Modern Family" registered as the evening's No. 1 TV program for the 6th straight week.

· Showing impressive retention of its year-ago original telecast in viewers (87%) and young adults (86%), ABC's "Modern Family" posted its strongest-ever repeat performance. The third-year ABC comedy surpassed its previous encore highs (on 2/2/11) by 24% in Total Viewers (11.4 million vs. 9.2 million) and by 26% in Adults 18-49 (4.4/12 vs. 3.5/9).

"Happy Endings" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC sophomore "Happy Endings" won its slot in Adults 18-49 (3.5/9), while finishing as the No. 1 series in its slot for the 4th week running in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Jumping week to week in viewers (+22% - 8.3 million vs. 6.8 million) and young adults (+17% - 3.5/9 vs. 3.0/7), ABC's "Happy Endings" hit series highs. In fact it was the 2nd time in 3 weeks for the ABC sophomore comedy to post series-best results in the key young adult sales demo.

"Revenge" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Building on its Total Viewer lead-in during the 10 o'clock hour, ABC freshman drama "Revenge" took first place in its time period in Adults 18-49. In addition, "Revenge" was the No. 1 series in the hour for its 6th consecutive airing with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Growing week to week in viewers (+9% - 8.7 million vs. 8.0 million) and young adults (+12% - 2.8/7 vs. 2.5/7), ABC's "Revenge" produced the series' 2nd-highest numbers ever. Continuing to show forward momentum, the new ABC drama marked its 3rd consecutive week of Total Viewer gains.

· For the freshman series' 6th straight telecast, "Revenge" tallied huge time-period improvement for ABC, catapulting over the year-ago night ("The Whole Truth" = 4.4 million and 1.1/3) in viewers (+98%) and young adults (+155%). "Revenge" continues to qualify as ABC's most-watched series during Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour in more than 4 years - since "Lost" during the 2006-07 TV Season.

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 42% currently, from 38% 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 (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 10/26/11.