ABC Earns 2nd on Wednesday to FOX/"Modern Family" Is the #1 Scripted Show

ABC was a competitive #2 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 to Fox with a 2-hour American Idol. ABC's Modern Family finished as Wednesday's #1 scripted TV show across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

At 8pm, ABC's The Middle took second place to Idol, beating its NBC comedy competition (Whitney) by 4.9 million viewers and by 92% in Adults 18-49.

Building week to week and taking second at 8:30pm, ABC's The Neighbors dominated its freshman comedy competition in the half-hour, nearly doubling the audience of NBC's Guys with Kids by a best-ever 97% and leading by 50% in Adults 18-49. The Neighbors was up over the prior week by 1.0 million viewers and by 13% in Adults 18-49.

Spiking over its lead-in at 9pm (+111%), ABC's Modern Family beat its nearest scripted competition in the half-hour by 41% in Adults 18-49 (CBS' Criminal Minds).

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Suburgatory grew week to week by 26% in Total Viewers and by 17% in Adults 18-49.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Nashville ranked #1 in Adults 18-34 and won its slot in Women 18-34 for its 4th straight original telecast. Season to date Nashville is delivering big increases via TV playback, gaining 55% in Adults 18-49 (+1.1 rating points - from a 2.0 L+SD rating to a 3.1 L+7 rating). The new ABC drama also adds on 2.8 million viewers to its preliminary L+SD average in the L+7 finals (6.2 million to 9.0 million).

Quick Take for Wednesday, February 6, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Takes Second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 to Fox with a 2-Hour "Idol"

ABC's "The Middle" Outdelivers NBC's "Whitney" by Wide Margins

"The Neighbors" is Up and Dominates its NBC Freshman Comedy Competition

ABC's "Modern Family" Ranks as Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted TV Show

ABC's "Suburgatory" Posts Double-Digit Increases Week to Week

ABC's "Nashville" Finishes No. 1 at 10pm in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34

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

ABC was a competitive No. 2 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6) to Fox with a 2-hour "American Idol." ABC's "Modern Family" finished as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

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

At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" took second place to "Idol," beating its NBC comedy competition ("Whitney") by 4.9 million viewers (8.4 million vs. 3.5 million) and by 92% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 vs. 1.2/4).

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

Building week to week and taking second at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Neighbors" dominated its freshman comedy competition in the half-hour, nearly doubling the audience of NBC's "Guys with Kids" by a best-ever 97% (6.3 million vs. 3.2 million) and leading by 50% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.2/3). "The Neighbors" was up over the prior week by 1.0 million viewers and by 13% in Adults 18-49.

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

Spiking over its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+111%), ABC's "Modern Family" beat its nearest scripted competition in the half-hour by 41% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/10 vs. 2.7/7 - CBS' "Criminal Minds").

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

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Suburgatory" grew week to week by 26% in Total Viewers (5.9 million vs. 4.7 million) and by 17% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/5 vs. 1.8/4).

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-34 (1.4/4-tie) and won its slot in Women 18-34 (2.1/6) for its 4th straight original telecast. Season to date "Nashville" is delivering substantial increases via TV playback, gaining 55% in Adults 18-49 (+1.1 rating points - from a 2.0 L+SD rating to a 3.1 L+7 rating). The new ABC drama also adds on 2.8 million viewers to its preliminary L+SD average in the L+7 finals (6.2 million to 9.0 million).

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), 02/06/13.