ABC's Barbara Walters Special Draws Biggest Audience to Time Slot in 9 Weeks

Info on ABC's Wednesday, ahead of the regular press release.

ABC finished #2 on Wednesday night in Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-34/AD25-54).

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle defeated NBC's Whitney in the half-hour by wide margins, leading by 97% in Total Viewers and by 57% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the ABC comedy ran as the 2nd-most-watched TV show in the slot, outdrawing Fox's The X Factor, while topping the season's penultimate episode of Survivor: Philippines by 23% in Adults 18-34.

At 8:30pm, ABC's The Neighbors towered over its freshman comedy competition, outdelivering NBC's replay Guys with Kids by 104% in Total Viewers and by 60% in Adults 18-49. The ABC Family comedy stood as the #2 broadcast show in the half-hour with Teens 12-17.

At 9pm, ABC's Modern Family shot to the top of its half-hour in Adults 18-49, beating CBS Criminal Minds by 40%, Fox's The X Factor by 50% and NBC's Take it All by 320%.

· ABC's Modern Family qualified as Wednesday's #1 TV show for its 9th straight original telecast across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

From 9:30-11pm, ABC's Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012 earned second place in its time period with Total Viewers and all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). The ABC News special highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and popular culture, beat out NBC's Chicago Fire by 3.0 million viewers and by 50% in Adults 18-49 during the 10 o'clock hour. In addition, the program won the final hour of the night over CSI across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Gen. David Petraeus was named the most fascinating person of 2012.

· Gaining audience during each half hour of its 90-minute broadcast, Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012 generated ABC's biggest audience in time period in 9 weeks (since 10/10/12), representing its 2nd largest audience this season.

Quick Take for Wednesday, December 12, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Earns Second Place on Wednesday Night in Total Viewers and Key Adults

From 8-9pm, "The Middle" and "The Neighbors" Dominate the Comedy Competition

"Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for its 9th Straight Original Airing

Gaining Audience Throughout Broadcast, "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012" Draws ABC's Biggest Audience to the Slot in 9 Weeks

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

ABC finished No. 2 on Wednesday night in Total Viewers (7.8 million) and key Adults: AD18-34 (1.7/6) and AD25-54 (2.9/7-tie). Among Adults 18-49, ABC, CBS and Fox each delivered an identical 7 audience share on the evening.

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" defeated NBC's "Whitney" in the half-hour by wide margins, leading by 97% in Total Viewers (7.5 million vs. 3.8 million) and by 57% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 1.4/4). In addition, the ABC comedy ran as the 2nd-most-watched TV show in the slot, outdrawing Fox's "The X Factor" (7.5 million vs. 7.1 million), while outrunning the season's penultimate episode of "Survivor: Philippines" by 23% in Adults 18-34 (1.6/6 vs. 1.3/5).

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

At 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Neighbors" towered over its freshman comedy competition, outdelivering NBC's replay "Guys with Kids" by 104% in Total Viewers (5.5 million vs. 2.7 million) and by 60% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/4 vs. 1.0/3). The ABC family comedy stood as the No. 2 broadcast show in the half-hour with Teens 12-17.

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

Coming off the prior week's repeat at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" shot to the top of its half-hour in Adults 18-49 (4.2/11), beating CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 40% (3.0/8), Fox's "The X Factor" by 50% (2.8/7) and NBC's "Take It All" by 320% (1.0/3).

· ABC's "Modern Family" qualified as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show for its 9th straight original telecast across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

"Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012" (9:30-11:00 p.m.)

From 9:30-11:00 p.m., ABC's "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012" earned second place in its time period with Total Viewers (7.7 million) and all key Adult demos: AD18-34 (1.4/5), AD18-49 (2.1/6) and AD25-54 (2.7/6). The ABC News special, highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and popular culture, beat out NBC's "Chicago Fire" (4.8 million and 1.4/4) by 3.0 million viewers and by 50% in Adults 18-49 during the 10 o'clock hour. In addition, the program won the final hour of the night over "CSI" across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Gen. David Petraeus was named the most fascinating person of 2012.

· Gaining audience during each half-hour of its 90-minute broadcast, "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012" generated ABC's biggest audience in the time period in 9 weeks (since 10/10/12), representing its 2nd-largest audience this season.

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 46% currently, from 43% 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), 12/12/12.