ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's #1 Scripted Show in Adults 18-49/"Happy Endings" Grows

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

Please Note: With the change to Daylight Savings time, overall Adult 18-49 TV usage during Wednesday's lead-off hour (8-9pm) dropped a sharp -9% from the prior week (31.7 vs. 34.7).

At 8pm, against CBS' Survivor: One World and the start of Fox's 2-hour Idol, ABC's The Middle dominated its NBC comedy competition, outdrawing Whitney by 3.0 million viewers and by 50% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC comedy beat out Survivor for its 4th straight original telecast in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

Retaining 100% of its young adult lead-in at 8:30pm, ABC's Suburgatory crushed its freshman comedy competition in its slot, more than doubling the numbers for NBC's Are You There, Chelsea? to hold its biggest-ever advantages in Total Viewers (+117%) and Adults 18-49 (+110%). For the 4th time in as many first-run telecasts, the ABC freshman comedy outran the second half of Survivor: One World by double digits with Adults 18-34 (+21%) and Women 18-34 (+29%).

Wednesday's dominant #1 scripted show in Adults 18-49, ABC's Modern Family more than doubled its lead-in at 9pm to beat out its nearest scripted competition by a resounding 63% (CBS' Criminal Minds).

· Modern Family finished as Wednesday's #1 TV program overall in Adults 18-34 (4th time in 5 original telecasts) and hard-to-reach Men 18-34 (5th straight original telecast).

During the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Happy Endings stood as the #1 scripted show in its slot across the 18-34 demographics, for its 17th straight first-run broadcast with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· The ABC sophomore comedy surged by double-digit percentages week to week in Total Viewers (+22%) and Adults 18-49 (+20%).

· Continuing to improve its time slot year to year in viewers (+22%) and young adults (+33%), ABC's Happy Endings paced well ahead of the year-ago performance by Mr. Sunshine in the half-hour.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Revenge for Real: Murder in the Hamptons dominated its NBC News competition for the 2nd week in a row. The limited series from ABC News towered over NBC News' Rock Center with Brian Williams, increasing its lead to 73% in Total Viewers, 113% in Adults 25-54 and 100% in Adults 18-49.

· ABC's Revenge for Real grew Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour year to year in Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%), topping first-run programming on the same night last year.

Quick Take for Wednesday, March 14, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

From 8-9pm, ABC's "The Middle" and "Suburgatory" Continue to Dominate NBC's Comedies in Viewers and Adults 18-49, while Beating CBS' "Survivor" in Adults 18-34

ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted Show in Adults 18-49 And Finishes as the No. 1 TV Show Overall in Adults 18-34 and Men 18-34

Up by Double-Digits in Viewers and Young Adults, ABC's "Happy Endings" Surges Week to Week and Continues to Improve its Half-Hour Year to Year

For the 2nd Week in a Row, ABC's "Revenge for Real" Dominates its News Competition, Towering Over NBC's "Rock Center with Brian Williams" at 10pm

Please Note: With the change to Daylight Savings time, overall Adult 18-49 TV usage during Wednesday's lead-off hour (8-9pm) dropped a sharp -9% from the prior week (31.7 vs. 34.7).

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

At 8:00 p.m., against CBS' "Survivor: One World" and the start of Fox's 2-hour "Idol," ABC's "The Middle" dominated its NBC comedy competition, outdrawing "Whitney" by 3.0 million viewers (7.0 million vs. 4.0 million) and by 50% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7 vs. 1.4/5). In addition, the ABC comedy beat out "Survivor" for its 4th straight original telecast in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

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

Retaining 100% of its young adult lead-in at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "Suburgatory" crushed its freshman comedy competition in its slot, more than doubling the numbers for NBC's "Are You There, Chelsea?" to hold its biggest-ever advantages in Total Viewers (+117% - 6.3 million vs. 2.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+110% - 2.1/6 vs. 1.0/3). For the 4th time in as many first-run telecasts, the ABC freshman comedy outran the second half of "Survivor: One World" by double digits with Adults 18-34 (+21% - 1.7/6 vs. 1.4/5) and Women 18-34 (+29% - 2.2/7 vs. 1.7/6).

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

Wednesday's dominant No. 1 scripted show in Adults 18-49 (4.4/12), ABC's "Modern Family" more than doubled its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. to beat out its nearest scripted competition by a resounding 63% (CBS' "Criminal Minds" = 2.7/7).

· "Modern Family" finished as Wednesday's No. 1 TV program overall in Adults 18-34 (4th time in 5 original telecasts) and hard-to-reach Men 18-34 (5th straight original telecast).

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

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Happy Endings" stood as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot across the 18-34 demographics, the scripted leader for its 17th straight first-run broadcast with Adults 18-34 (2.1/7) and Women 18-34 (2.7/8).

· The ABC sophomore comedy surged by double-digit percentages week to week in Total Viewers (+22% - 5.5 million vs. 4.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+20% - 2.4/6 vs. 2.0/5).

· Continuing to improve its time slot year to year in viewers (+22%) and young adults (+33%), ABC's "Happy Endings" paced well ahead of the year-ago performance by "Mr. Sunshine" (4.5 million and 1.8/5) in the half-hour.

"Revenge for Real: The Governor's Son" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Revenge for Real" dominated its NBC News competition for the 2nd week in a row. The limited series from ABC News towered over NBC News' "Rock Center with Brian Williams," increasing its lead to 73% in Total Viewers (4.5 million vs. 2.6 million), 113% in Adults 25-54 (1.7/4 vs. 0.8/2) and 100% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/3 vs. 0.6/2).

· ABC's "Revenge for Real" grew Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour year to year in Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%), topping first-run programming on the same night last year ("Off the Map" = 4.2 million and 1.6/4).

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), 03/14/12.