ABC is the Only Net Up on Wednesday Year to Year with Double-Digit Gains

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

ABC earned second place on Wednesday to Fox with a 2-hour Idol across the 18-34 demos (A18-34/M18-34/W18-34) and also finished as the #2 broadcaster with Teens 12-17.

· Continuing to produce double-digit year-to-year returns on the evening, ABC surged over the year-ago Wednesday in Viewers (+20%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%). In fact, ABC was the only broadcaster to grow its Adult 18-49 number year to year.

· The Net equaled its strongest Wednesday since February with young adults - since 2/29/12.

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 1.6 million viewers and by 54% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC comedy beat out Survivor for its 6th straight first-run telecast in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

Retaining 100% of its young adult lead-in at 8:30pm, ABC's Suburgatory paced well ahead of its NBC freshman competition in its slot, defeating a second episode of Off their Rockers by 18% in Total Viewers and by 43% in Adults 18-49. For the 7th consecutive original airing, the ABC freshman comedy took full control of the second half of Survivor: One World with Adults 18-34 (+25%) and Women 18-34 (+46%).

· The ABC freshman comedy boosted its slot year to year by 25% in Adults 18-49 over original comedy programming on the same night last year.

TV's #1 scripted show for the 2nd straight season in Adults 18-49, ABC's Modern Family doubled its lead-in at 9pm to qualify as Wednesday's dominant scripted program, leading runner-up CBS' Criminal Minds by 25%. In addition, Modern Family beat American Idol head to head in the half hour to stand as Wednesday's #1 TV show overall with Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Compared its last original two weeks ago, Modern Family retained 100% of its "Fast Affiliate" Adult 18-49 number. In addition, the show was up with Women 18-49, posting a 7-week high - since 3/14/12.

· ABC's Modern Family grew over its year-ago broadcast in both viewers and young adults.

During the 9:30pm half-hour against the conclusion of Idol, ABC's Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23 ranked as the #1 scripted show in its slot for the 3rd time in 4 telecasts in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Men 18-34.

· Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23 jumped week to week by double digits in Total Viewers (+20%) and Adults 18-49 (+20%). In addition, the new show once again improved its half-hour year to year among viewers (+7%) and young adults (+9%), beating original comedy programming on the year-ago night.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Revenge ran in a near tie for first place Adults 18-49 (tying CBS' CSI in audience share), while ranking #1 in the hour with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). The ABC freshman drama beat out NBC's veteran Law & Order: SVU in the hour with Total Viewers (+9%), Adults 18-49 (+17%) and Adults 25-54 (+17%).

· Revenge delivered dramatic improvement in the hour for ABC over original programming on the same night last year in Total Viewers (+97%), Adults 25-54 (+69%) and Adults 18-49 (+40%).

Quick Take for Wednesday, May 2, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Scoring Double-Digit Gains, ABC is the Only Net Up Year to Year in Adults 18-49

"The Middle" Beats "Survivor" in Adults 18-34 for its 6th Straight Original Airing

ABC's "Suburgatory" Boosts its Slot by a Strong 25% in Adults 18-49 Year Over Year

TV's No. 1 Scripted Series for the 2nd Straight Season in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Modern Family" Continues to Generate Year-to-Year Growth

Spiking 20% Week to Week, ABC's "Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" Continues to Improve its Time Period Year to Year in Viewers and Young Adults

Delivering Huge Year-to-Year Improvement for ABC with Viewers and Key Adults, ABC's "Revenge" Ranks No. 1 in its Hour in Adults 18-34 and Across All Key Women

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

ABC earned second place on Wednesday to Fox with a 2-hour "Idol" across the 18-34 demos (A18-34/M18-34/W18-34) and also finished as the No. 2 broadcaster with Teens 12-17.

· Continuing to produce double-digit year-to-year returns on the evening, ABC surged over the year-ago Wednesday in Viewers (+20% - 7.1 million vs. 5.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+14% - 2.4/7 vs. 2.1/6). In fact, ABC was the only broadcaster to grow its Adult 18-49 number year to year.

· The Net equaled its strongest Wednesday since February with young adults - since 2/29/12.

"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 1.6 million viewers (6.6 million vs. 5.0 million) and by 54% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7 vs. 1.3/4). In addition, the ABC comedy beat out "Survivor" for its 6th straight first-run 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" paced well ahead of its NBC freshman competition in its slot, defeating a second episode of NBC's "Off their Rockers" by 18% in Total Viewers (5.8 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 43% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 1.4/4). For the 7th consecutive original airing, the ABC freshman comedy took full control of the second half of "Survivor: One World" with Adults 18-34 (+25%) and Women 18-34 (+46%).

· The ABC freshman comedy boosted its slot year to year by 25% in Adults 18-49 over original comedy programming on the same night last year ("Better With You" on 5/4/11 = 1.6/5).

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

TV's No. 1 scripted series for the 2nd straight season in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Modern Family" (4.0/11) doubled its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. to qualify as Wednesday's dominant scripted program, leading runner-up CBS' "Criminal Minds" (3.0/8) by 33%. In addition, "Modern Family" beat "American Idol" head to head in the half hour to stand as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show overall with Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Compared to its last original two weeks ago, "Modern Family" retained 100% of its "Fast Affiliate" Adult 18-49 number. In addition, the show was up with Women 18-49, posting a 7-week high - since 3/14/12.

· ABC's "Modern Family" grew over its year-ago broadcast in both viewers (+1% - 10.0 million vs. 9.9 million) and young adults (+3% - 4.0/11 vs. 3.9/10).

"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 "Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" ranked as the No. 1 scripted show in its slot for the 3rd time in 4 telecasts in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Men 18-34.

· "Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" jumped week to week by double digits in Total Viewers (+20% - 5.9 million vs. 4.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+20% - 2.4/6 vs. 2.0/5). In addition, the new show once again improved its half-hour year to year among viewers (+7%) and young adults (+9%), beating original comedy programming on the year-ago night ("Cougar Town" on 5/4/11 = 5.5 million and 2.2/6).

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Revenge" ran in a near tie for first place Adults 18-49 (tying CBS' "CSI" in audience share - 2.1/6 vs. 2.3/6), while ranking No. 1 in the hour with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). The ABC freshman drama beat out NBC's veteran "Law & Order: SVU" in the hour with Total Viewers (+9% - 7.1 million vs. 6.5 million), Adults 18-49 (+17% - 2.1/6 vs. 1.8/5) and Adults 25-54 (+17% - 2.7/7 vs. 2.3/6).

· "Revenge" delivered dramatic improvement in the hour for ABC over original programming on the same night last year in Total Viewers (+97%), Adults 25-54 (+69%) and Adults 18-49 (+40%).

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 44% currently, from 41% 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), 05/02/12.