Debut of "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23" Posts ABC's Best Retention in 1 Year Out of "Modern Family"

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

With ABC's 8-10pm comedy block returning to all-originals for the first time in 4 weeks (since 3/14/12) followed by a Revenge clip-show, the Net posted its strongest Wednesday since February in viewers and young adults - since 2/29/12.

· ABC was up over the same night last year in Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

At 8pm, against CBS' Survivor: One World and the start of Fox's 2-hour Idol, ABC's The Middle outdelivered NBC's Off their Rockers by 13% in viewers and by 31% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC comedy beat out Survivor for its 5th straight original telecast in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· The Middle rose by double digits over its year-ago telecast on the evening, surging by 15% in viewers and by 17% in young adults year to year.

Retaining 100% of its young adult lead-in at 8:30pm, ABC's Suburgatory towered over its NBC freshman comedy competition in its slot, more than doubling the numbers for NBC's Best Friends Forever in Total Viewers (+110%) and Adults 18-49 (+133%). For the 5th 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 (+15%) and Women 18-34 (+29%).

· Suburgatory delivered big year-over-year improvement for ABC in the half-hour, jumping by 27% in viewers and by 40% in young adults over original comedy programming on the same night last year.

Wednesday's dominant #1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-49, ABC's Modern Family nearly doubled its lead-in at 9pm to beat out its nearest scripted competition by 37% (CBS' Criminal Minds). In addition, Modern Family finished as Wednesday's #1 TV program among hard-to-reach Men 18-34, beating out Idol by 13% in the time period.

· ABC's Modern Family grew over its year-ago broadcast by 7% in viewers and by 5% in young adults.

During the 9:30pm half-hour against the conclusion of Idol, ABC's debut of Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23 opened as the #1 scripted show in its slot across the 18-34 demographics (A18-34/W18-34/M18-34).

· Exhibiting improved lead-in retention for ABC, the series debut of Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23 drew the Net's biggest audience in the slot in over 3 months and its highest Adult 18-49 number in more than 2 months - since 1/4/12 and 2/8/12, respectively. In addition, the show improved the half-hour for ABC year to year with in Adults 18-49 (+4%).

· Holding strong retention of its Modern Family's lead-in with viewers and young adults (68%/71%), Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23 generated ABC's best retention in the half-hour coming out of an original Modern Family in 1 year - since 4/13/11.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Revenge: From the Beginning series recap show defeated NBC's original Law & Order: SVU in both Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 25-54 (+10%), while tying among Adults 18-49. In addition, beating original dramas on CBS and NBC in, ABC ranked #1 in the hour with Women 18-34.

Quick Take for Wednesday, April 11, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Posting its Strongest Wednesday Since February with Viewers and Young Adults, ABC Qualifies as the Only Network to Improve in Adults 18-49 Year Over Year

ABC's "The Middle" Marks Strong Year-to-Year Gains in Viewers and Young Adults

ABC's "Suburgatory" More Than Doubles NBC's "Best Friends Forever," While Delivering Big Time-Period Improvement for the Net from the Year-Ago Night

Up Year to Year, "Modern Family" is the Night's No. 1 Scripted Show in Adults 18-49

Scoring the Net's Best Lead-in Retention in 1 Year, ABC's Debut of "Don't Trust The B--- in Apartment 23" Draws the Slot's Biggest Audience in Over 3 Months

ABC's "Revenge" Series Recap Beats NBC's Return of "L&O: SVU" Among Viewers and Adults 25-54, While Winning the 10pm Hour in Women 18-34

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

With ABC's 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedy block returning to all-originals for the first time in 4 weeks (since 3/14/12) followed by a "Revenge" clip-show, the Net posted its strongest Wednesday since February in viewers (6.9 million) and young adults (2.4/7) � since 2/29/12.

· The Net was up over the same night last year (6.4 million and 2.3/6 on 4/13/11) in Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%). In fact, ABC was the only net to grow its young adult audience year to year.

"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" outdelivered NBC's "Off their Rockers" by 13% in viewers (7.0 million vs. 6.2 million) and by 31% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7 vs. 1.6/5). In addition, the ABC comedy beat out "Survivor" for its 5th straight original telecast in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· "The Middle" rose by double digits over its year-ago telecast on the evening (6.1 million and 1.8/6), surging by 15% in viewers and by 17% in young adults year to year.

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

Retaining 100% of its young adult lead-in at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "Suburgatory" towered over its NBC freshman comedy competition in its slot, more than doubling the numbers for "Best Friends Forever" in Total Viewers (+110% - 6.1 million vs. 2.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+133% - 2.1/.6 vs. 0.9/3). For the 5th 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 (+15%) and Women 18-34 (+29%).

· "Suburgatory" delivered big year-over-year improvement for ABC in the half-hour, jumping by 27% in viewers and by 40% in young adults over original comedy programming on the same night last year ("Better with You" = 4.8 million and 1.5/4).

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

Wednesday's dominant No. 1 scripted show in Adults 18-49 (4.1/11), ABC's "Modern Family" nearly doubled its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. to beat its closest scripted competition by 37% (CBS' "Criminal Minds" = 3.0/8). In addition, "Modern Family" finished as Wednesday's No. 1 TV program among hard-to-reach Men 18-34, beating out "Idol" by 13% on the night (2.6/8 vs. 2.3/8).

· ABC's "Modern Family" grew over its year-ago broadcast (9.6 million and 3.9/10) by 7% in viewers and by 5% in young adults.

"Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour against the conclusion of "Idol," ABC's debut of "Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" opened as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot across the 18-34 demographics (A18-34/W18-34/M18-34).

· Exhibiting improved lead-in retention for ABC, "Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" (7.0 million and 2.9/7) drew the Net's biggest audience in the slot in over 3 months and its highest Adult 18-49 number in more than 2 months � since 1/4/12 and 2/8/12, respectively. In addition, the show improved the half-hour for ABC year to year with in Adults 18-49 (+4% - "Happy Endings" on 4/13/11 = 2.8/7).

· Holding strong retention of its "Modern Family" lead-in with viewers and young adults (68%/71%), "Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" generated ABC's best retention in the half-hour coming out of an original "Modern Family" in 1 year � since 4/13/11.

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

During the 10 o'clock hour 1 week before returning to originals, ABC's "Revenge: From the Beginning" series recap show defeated NBC's original "Law & Order: SVU" in both Total Viewers (+4% - 5.6 million vs. 5.4 million) and Adults 25-54 (+10% - 2.2/5 vs. 2.0/5), while tying among Adults 18-49 (1.6/4). In addition, beating original dramas on CBS and NBC, ABC ranked No. 1 in the hour with Women 18-34.

· The "Revenge" clip-show produced 6-week highs for ABC in the hour with Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

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), 04/11/12.