ABC's "Happy Endings" Is Up and Nearly Ties NBC's "Go On" in Adults 18-49

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

From 8-9pm, ABC's repeat comedies (Modern Family/The Middle) beat Fox's original comedies (Raising Hope/Ben & Kate) by 2.2 million viewers and by 14% in Adults 18-49. In addition at 8pm, the encore Modern Family outdelivered the second season premiere of NBC's Off Their Rockers with viewers and young adults.

At 9pm, ABC's Happy Endings was up over its last original telecast in the half-hour three weeks ago by 8% in Adults 18-49 and posted its most-competitive finish yet with NBC's Go On (pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share). Happy Endings defeated Go On in Adults 18-34 and Men 18-34. The ABC comedy matched its top Adult 18-49 number since its season premiere on October 23, 2012.

At 9:30pm, Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23 drew its biggest audience in 10 weeks (since 10/30/12) and retained 100% of its last original in the half-hour among Adults 18-49.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Private Practice earned its largest audience since December 4, 2012.

Quick Take for Tuesday, January 8, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

During the 8pm Hour, ABC's Repeat Comedies Outdeliver Fox's First-Run Comedies

Up Over its Most Recent Original in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Happy Endings" Nearly Ties NBC's "Go On"; Matches its Highest Rating Since its October Season Premiere

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23" Earns its Most Watched Telecast in 10 Weeks

"Private Practice" Delivers its Biggest Audience Since the Beginning of December

"Modern Family"/"The Middle" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's repeat comedies ("Modern Family"/"The Middle") beat Fox's original comedies ("Raising Hope"/"Ben & Kate") by 2.2 million viewers (5.3 million vs. 3.1 million) and by 14% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/4 vs. 1.4/4). In addition, at 8:00 p.m. the encore "Modern Family" outdelivered the second season premiere of NBC's "Off Their Rockers" in viewers (5.8 million vs. 5.7 million) and young adults (1.7/5 vs. 1.5/4).

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

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Happy Endings" was up over its last original telecast in the half-hour three weeks ago by 8% in Adults 18-49 (on 12/18/12), and posted its most competitive finish yet with NBC's "Go On" (pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share - 1.4/4 vs. 1.5/4). "Happy Endings" defeated "Go On" in Adults 18-34 (+10%) and Men 18-34 (+43%). The ABC comedy matched its top Adult 18-49 number since its season premiere on October 23, 2012.

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

At 9:30 p.m., ABC's "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23" drew its biggest audience (3.2 million) in 10 weeks (since 10/30/12) and retained 100% of its last original in the half-hour among Adults 18-49 (1.1/3).

"Private Practice" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Building on its lead-in (+22%) during the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Private Practice" earned its largest audience (3.9 million) since December 4, 2012.

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 47% currently, from 43% at the same point in 2012. 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), 01/08/13.