ABC's Wednesday Lineup Returns to Originals with Big Gains

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

With its Wednesday schedule returning to originals for the first time in a month, ABC led the pack on the first Wednesday of 2012 by wide margins, beating out CBS by 1.2 million viewers and by 65% in Adults 18-49. In fact, ABC ran as the top-rated broadcaster in all 6 half-hours of the night among Adults 18-49. ABC scored its strongest Wednesday in 10 weeks with viewers and in 9 weeks with young adults - since 10/26/11 and 11/2/11, respectively.

· Modern Family finished as the definitive #1 TV series on Wednesday in viewers and young adults. In fact, ABC's Modern Family is on track to finish as the week's top-rated scripted show and as TV's #1 comedy in Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS' original Two and a Half Men by 24% this past Monday.

· As the Network was up across its schedule from the same Wednesday last year (also a night of all originals), ABC surged year over year by 27% in viewers and by 22% in young adults.

· Despite facing championship college football on ESPN (Discover Orange Bowl), ABC grew by double digits over the last time its Wednesday lineup was in originals 4 weeks ago (on 12/7/11) in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%), with all 5 of its series posting gains.

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle beat out CBS' special I Get That A Lot in viewers and young adults.

· The Middle was up over its most recent original by 1.3 million viewers and by 7% in young adults, marking the series 3rd-highest numbers ever on both counts.

At 8:30pm like its lead-in, ABC's Suburgatory topped the second half-hour of CBS' I Get That A Lot in viewers and young adults.

· Rising over its most recent first-run in viewers (+9%) and young adults (+4%), Suburgatory drew its biggest audience in 10 weeks - since 10/26/11.

Gaining on its lead-in at 9pm, ABC's Modern Family registered as Wednesday's #1 TV series in Adults 18-49 for its 10th consecutive first-run telecast this season.

· Building on its last original by 15% in viewers and by 10% in young adults, Modern Family attracted the series' 3rd-largest audience ever and equaled a 9-week high among Adults 18-49 (since 11/2/11).

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's Happy Endings more than doubled the second half-hour of Fox's Mobbed premiere in Total Viewers (+133%) and Adults 18-49 (+154%).

· Surging over its most recent original with viewers (+20%) and young adults (+18%), Happy Endings generated its 2nd-most-watched-ever telecast and its 3rd-highest-ever Adult 18-49 number.

From 10-11pm, ABC freshman drama Revenge finished as the #1 entertainment show in its time period among Adults 18-49.

· ABC's Revenge was up over its last first-run telecast in viewers (+10%) and young adults (+4%), marking a 7-week high on both counts - since 11/16/11.

Quick Take for Wednesday, January 4, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Wednesday Lineup Returns to Original with Across-the-Board Increases

Wednesday's Top Series in Adults 18-49 for its 10th Straight Original This Season, ABC's "Modern Family" is on Track to Finish as the Week's No. 1 Scripted Show

"The Middle" Scores the Series' 3rd-Strongest-Ever Viewer and Young Adult Numbers

ABC Freshman "Suburgatory" Generates its Biggest Audience in 10 Weeks

Surging Over its Last Original, "Modern Family" Draws its 3rd-Largest-Ever Audience

ABC's "Happy Endings" Turns in the Series' 2nd-Most-Watched Telecast

ABC Rookie "Revenge" Hits 7-Week Highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

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

With its schedule returning to originals for the first time in a month, ABC led the pack on the first Wednesday of 2012 by wide margins, beating out CBS by 1.2 million viewers (9.4 million vs. 8.2 million) and by 65% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/9 vs. 2.0/5). In fact, ABC ran as the top-rated broadcaster in all 6 half-hours of the night among Adults 18-49. ABC scored its strongest Wednesday with its regular lineup in 10 weeks with viewers, and in 9 weeks with young adults - since 10/26/11 and 11/2/11, respectively.

· "Modern Family" finished as the definitive No. 1 TV series on Wednesday in viewers and young adults. In fact, ABC's "Modern Family" is on track to finish as the week's top-rated scripted show and as TV's No. 1 comedy in Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS' original "Two and a Half Men" by 24% this past Monday (5.6/14 vs. 4.5/10).

· As the Network was up across its schedule from the same Wednesday last year (also a night of all originals), ABC surged year over year by 27% in viewers and by 22% in young adults (7.4 million and 2.7/8 on 1/5/11).

· Despite facing championship college football on ESPN (Discover Orange Bowl), ABC grew by double-digits over the last time its Wednesday lineup was in originals 4 weeks ago (on 12/7/11) in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%), with all 5 of its series posting gains.

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" beat out CBS' special "I Get That A Lot" in viewers and young adults.

· "The Middle" was up over its most recent original by 1.3 million viewers (10.0 million vs. 8.7 million) and by 7% in young adults (3.0/9 vs. 2.8/8), marking the series' 3rd-highest numbers ever on both counts.

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

At 8:30 p.m. like its lead-in, ABC's "Suburgatory" topped the second half-hour of CBS' "I Get That A Lot" in viewers and young adults.

· Rising over its most recent first-run in viewers (+9% - 8.7 million vs. 8.0 million) and young adults (+4% - 2.9/8 vs. 2.8/8), "Suburgatory" drew its biggest audience in 10 weeks - since 10/26/11.

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

Gaining on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" registered as Wednesday's No. 1 TV series in Adults 18-49 for its 10th consecutive first-run telecast this season.

· Building on its last original by 15% in viewers (14.0 million vs. 12.2 million) and by 10% in young adults (5.6/14 vs. 5.1/13), "Modern Family" attracted the series' 3rd-largest audience ever and equaled a 9-week high among Adults 18-49 (since 11/2/11).

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

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Happy Endings" more than doubled the second half-hour of Fox's "Mobbed" premiere in Total Viewers (+133% - 7.7 million vs. 3.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+154% - 3.3/8 vs. 1.3/3).

· Surging over its most recent original with viewers (+20%) and young adults (+18%), "Happy Endings" generated its 2nd-most-watched-ever telecast and its 3rd-highest-ever Adult 18-49 number.

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

From 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC freshman drama "Revenge" finished as the No. 1 entertainment show in its time period among Adults 18-49 (2.5/7).

· ABC's "Revenge" was up over its last first-run telecast in viewers (+10% - 8.0 million vs. 7.3 million) and young adults (+4% - 2.5/7 vs. 2.4/6), marking a 7-week high on both counts - since 11/16/11.

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 43% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2011. 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 Ratings), 1/4/12.