ABC's "Nashville" Hits a Best-Since-Debut Adults 18-49 Number

Up against the season premiere of American Idol, ABC earned second place on Wednesday night in Adults 18-49. ABC's Modern Family was Wednesday's #1 scripted TV show across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). Opposite Idol from 8-10pm, each of ABC's comedies retained 90% or better of their week-ago Adult 18-49 ratings.

Delivering solid week to week Adult 18-49 retention against Idol in the 8pm hour, ABC's The Middle (96%) and The Neighbors (90%) ran as the #1 scripted series in their respective half-hours. Growing week to week in Teens 12-17, The Middle and The Neighbors each delivered their highest teen ratings since November 14, 2012.

At 9pm, ABC's Modern Family held 91% of its week-earlier Adult 18-49 number and beat out its nearest scripted competition in the half-hour by 59% (CBS' Criminal Minds).

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Suburgatory retained 92% in Adult 18-49 number week to week.

Building its Adult 18-49 audience for its 4th straight original telecast, ABC's Nashville ran neck-and-neck with CBS' CSI for the 10 o'clock hour's lead in Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share). The ABC freshman drama beat out CSI to win the hour among Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). Gaining 5% week to week in Adults 18-49, Nashville delivered its highest rating since its debut telecast on October 10, 2012.

Quick Take for Wednesday, January 16, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Opposite the "Idol" Premiere, ABC Earns Second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 As "Modern Family" Finishes as the Evening's No. 1 Scripted TV Program

Each of ABC's Wednesday Comedies Hold 90% or Better of their Week-Ago Numbers

Building for its 4th Straight Original Telecast, ABC's "Nashville" Grows to its Highest Adult Rating Since its Debut Telecast in Early October

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

Up against the season premiere of "American Idol," ABC earned second place on Wednesday night in Adults 18-49 (2.5/7). ABC's "Modern Family" was Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). Opposite "Idol" from 8:00-10:00 p.m., each of ABC's comedies retained 90% or better of their week-ago Adult 18-49 ratings.

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

Delivering solid week-to-week Adult 18-49 retention against "Idol" in the 8:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "The Middle" (96% - 2.3/7 vs. 2.4/7) and "The Neighbors" (90% - 1.9/5 vs. 2.1/6) ran as the No. 1 scripted series in their respective half-hours.

· Growing week to week in Teens 12-17, "The Middle" and "The Neighbors" each delivered their highest teen ratings since November 14, 2012.

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

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" held 91% of its week-earlier Adult 18-49 number (4.3/11 vs. 4.7/12) and beat out its nearest scripted competition in the half-hour by 59% (CBS' "Criminal Minds" = 2.7/7).

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

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Suburgatory" retained 92% of its Adult 18-49 (2.4/6 vs. 2.6/7) number week to week.

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

Building its Adult 18-49 audience for its 4th straight original telecast, ABC's "Nashville" ran neck-and-neck with CBS' "CSI" for the 10 o'clock hour's lead in Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share - 2.2/6 vs. 2.3/6). The ABC freshman drama beat out "CSI" to win the hour among Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

· Gaining week to week in Adults 18-49 (+5%), "Nashville" delivered its highest rating since its debut telecast on October 10, 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), 01/16/13.