ABC's Replay Comedies Top NBC's Originals/ABC's "Revenge for Real" Overshadows NBC's "Rock Center"

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

Up against Fox's 2-hour American Idol, ABC's mix of original and repeat programming was up over the year-ago Wednesday in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+6%), improving year to year for the 5th straight week on the evening. In fact, the Net was once again the only broadcaster to increase its overall Wednesday audience year over year. ABC outdelivered NBC's mostly original line-up on the night by wide margins in viewers (+38%) and young adults (+42%).

At 8pm, ABC's repeat The Middle outdrew NBC's original Whitney by nearly 1.0 million viewers and nearly tied among Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1-tenth of a ratings point and tied in audience share).

· The Middle was up over its year-ago repeat telecast in the half-hour by 7% in Adults 18-49.

At 8:30pm like its lead-in, ABC's repeat Suburgatory drew a larger audience than its original NBC comedy competition, topping Are You There, Chelsea? by 24% in viewers and matching the NBC comedy in Adults 18-49.

· Suburgatory boosted its half-hour year over year for ABC, up by 7% in Adults 18-49 over the year-ago Wednesday with a repeat The Middle.

ABC's repeat Modern Family at 9pm finished as Wednesday's #1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49, beating out CBS' Criminal Minds encore by 60% in the half-hour.

· The Modern Family replay was up year to year among Adults 18-49 (+4%).

During the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Happy Endings earned second place to the final half-hour of Fox's 2-hour American Idol in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC sophomore comedy qualified as the #1 scripted show in its slot for its 17th consecutive first-run airing in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Continuing to improve its slot year to year, ABC's Happy Endings spiked by 11% in Adults 18-49 over Mr. Sunshine (also an original) in the half-hour on the year-ago night.

During the 10 o'clock hour, the debut of ABC's Revenge for Real: Murder in The Hamptons earned second place in Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54). In fact, the limited series from ABC News crushed NBC News' time-period premiere of Rock Center with Brian Williams, leading by 42% in Total Viewers, by 46% in Adults 25-54 and by 40% in Adults 18-49.

· ABC's Revenge for Real improved Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour year to year by double digits in Total Viewers (+19%), Adults 25-54 (+12%) and Adults 18-34 (+19%), outdelivering first-run programming on the same night last year.

Quick Take for Wednesday, March 7, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC's Wednesday Numbers Grow Year to Year for the 5th Straight Week

From 8-9pm, ABC's Repeat Comedies Outdraw NBC's First-Run Comedies

ABC's Repeat "Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted Show in Adults 18-49

Boosting its Slot by 11% in Adults 18-49 Year to Year, ABC's "Happy Endings" is the No. 1 Scripted Show in its Half-Hour in Adults 18-34 for its 17th Straight Original

At 10pm, ABC's Debut of "Revenge for Real: Murder in the Hamptons" Towers Over NBC's Time-Period Premiere of "Rock Center with Brian Williams"

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

Up against Fox's 2-hour "American Idol," ABC's mix of original and repeat programming was up over the year-ago Wednesday in Total Viewers (+2% - 5.1 million vs. 5.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+6% - 1.7/5 vs. 1.6/5), improving year to year for the 5th straight week on the evening. In fact, the Net was once again the only broadcaster to increase its overall Wednesday audience year over year. ABC outdelivered NBC's mostly original lineup (3.7 million and 1.2/3) on the night by wide margins in viewers (+38%) and young adults (+42%).

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's repeat "The Middle" outdrew NBC's original "Whitney" by almost 1.0 million viewers (5.2 million vs. 4.3 million) and nearly tied among Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 vs. 1.6/5 - pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share).

· "The Middle" was up over its year-ago repeat telecast in the half-hour by 7% in Adults 18-49.

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

At 8:30 p.m., like its lead-in, ABC's repeat "Suburgatory" drew a larger audience than its original NBC comedy competition, topping "Are You There, Chelsea?" by 24% in viewers (4.6 million vs. 3.7 million) and matching the NBC comedy in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4).

· "Suburgatory" boosted its half-hour year over year for ABC, up by 7% in Adults 18-49 over the year-ago Wednesday with a special repeat "The Middle."

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

ABC's repeat "Modern Family" at 9:00 p.m. finished as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49, beating out runner-up CBS' "Criminal Minds" encore by 60% in the half-hour (2.4/6 vs. 1.5/4).

· ABC's "Modern Family" replay was up year to year among Adults 18-49 (+4%).

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

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Happy Endings" (2.0/5) earned second place to the conclusion of Fox's 2-hour "American Idol" in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC sophomore comedy qualified as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot for its 17th consecutive first-run airing in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Continuing to improve its slot year to year, ABC's "Happy Endings" spiked by 11% in Adults 18-49 over "Mr. Sunshine" (also an original) in the half-hour on the year-ago night (1.8/5).

"Revenge for Real: Murder in the Hamptons" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, the debut of ABC's "Revenge for Real: Murder in the Hamptons" earned second place in Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54). In fact, the limited series from ABC News crushed NBC News' time-period premiere of "Rock Center with Brian Williams," leading by 42% in Total Viewers (5.1 million vs. 3.6 million), by 46% in Adults 25-54 (1.9/5 vs. 1.3/3) and by 40% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.0/3).

· ABC's "Revenge for Real" improved Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour year to year by double digits in Total Viewers (+19%) and Adults 25-54 (+12%), outdelivering first-run programming on the same night last year ("Off the Map" = 4.3 million and 1.7/5).

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 40% 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 Day Ratings), 03/07/12.