ABC's "Modern" Beats "Idol" as Wednesday's #1 TV Show/"How to Live" Is Up 47%

Returning to an all-original line up on the night for the first time in 3 weeks (since 4/10/13), ABC's Modern Family came back as Wednesday's #1 TV show in Adults 18-49, outdelivering Fox's American Idol on the night by 25%. Modern has now beaten or tied Idol-Wed in each of its last 5 originals. Out of Modern, How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) continued to deliver improved lead-in retention for ABC year to year and was up sharply week to week.

At 8pm against unusually strong competition from a 3-way reality battle (Idol, The Voice and Survivor), ABC's The Middle held 100% of its Adult 18-49 delivery from its most recent original three weeks ago. The Middle took second to Idol in the half-hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49), while ranking as the #1 broadcast show with Teens 12-17.

Opposite stiff competition at 8:30pm, ABC's series debut of Family Tools delivered the Net's largest audience in the slot in 4 weeks (since 4/3/13) and drew more viewers than the second half-hour of NBC's The Voice.

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+133%), ABC's Modern Family dominated its half-hour by 21% over American Idol and outrated its nearest scripted competition in the slot by 46% (CBS' Criminal Minds). Modern held 92% of its last original airing with young adults.

During the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's How to Live with Your Parents was up 47% week to week in Adults 18-49 to its 3rd-highest rating. In addition, How to Live with Your Parents delivered stronger young adult lead-in retention year to year for ABC in the half-hour, compared to B---- in Apt 23 on the year-ago night out of an original Modern Family (63% vs. 56%).

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Nashville won it slot over its drama competition on CBS (CSI) and NBC (Chicago Fire) in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49) and ran in a virtual tie for #1 in Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1-tenth of the hour's lead and tied in audience share). The ABC freshman drama retained 94% of its most recent original in Adults 18-49 and 100% in Adults 18-34. Delivering among the biggest increases in TV playback this season, Nashville's Adult 18-49 rating for originals spikes 58% on average (going from a 1.9 in L+SD to a 3.0 rating in L+7).

Quick Take for Wednesday, May 1, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Against a 3-Way Reality Battle, "The Middle" Holds 100% of its Adult 18-49 Rating

"Family Tools" Debut Draws ABC's Biggest Audience in the Half-Hour in 4 Weeks

ABC's "Modern Family" Returns as Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show in Adults 18-49

ABC's "How To Live With Your Parents" Spikes 47% in Adults 18-49 Week to Week

"Nashville" Runs in a Virtual Tie for No. 1 in Adults 18-49 and Wins in Adults 18-34

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

Returning to an all-original lineup on the night for the first time in 3 weeks (since 4/10/13), ABC's "Modern Family" came back as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49, outdelivering Fox's "American Idol" on the evening by 25% (3.5/10 vs. 2.8/8). "Modern" has now beaten or tied "Idol-Wed" in each of its last 5 originals. Out of "Modern," "How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)" continued to deliver improved lead-in retention for ABC year to year and was up sharply week to week.

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

At 8:00 p.m. against unusually strong competition from a 3-way reality battle ("Idol," "The Voice" and "Survivor"), ABC's "The Middle" (2.0/7) held 100% of its Adult 18-49 delivery from its most recent original three weeks ago. The ABC family comedy took second to "Idol" in the half-hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49), while ranking as the No. 1 broadcast show in Teens 12-17.

"Family Tools" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Opposite stiff competition at 8:30 p.m., ABC's series debut of "Family Tools" (5.8 million) delivered the Net's largest audience in the slot in 4 weeks (since 4/3/13) and drew more viewers than the second half-hour of NBC's special "The Voice" (5.6 million).

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

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+133%), ABC's "Modern Family" (3.5/10) dominated its half-hour by 21% over "American Idol" (2.9/8) and outrated its nearest scripted competition in the slot by 46% (CBS' "Criminal Minds" = 2.4/7). "Modern" held 92% of its last original airing with young adults

"How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)" (9:30 -10:00 p.m.)

During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "How to Live with Your Parents" was up 47% week to week in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 1.5/4) to earn its 3rd-highest rating. In addition, "How to Live with Your Parents" delivered stronger young adult lead-in retention year to year for ABC in the half-hour, compared to "B---- in Apt 23" on the year-ago night out of an original "Modern Family" (63% vs. 56%).

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" won it slot over its drama competition on CBS ("CSI") and NBC ("Chicago Fire") in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49) and ran in a virtual tie for No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5 - pacing within 1-tenth of the hour's lead and tied in audience share). The ABC freshman drama retained 94% of its most recent original in Adults 18-49 and 100% in Adults 18-34. Delivering among the biggest increases in TV playback this season, "Nashville's" Adult 18-49 rating for originals spikes 58% on average (going from a 1.9 in L+SD to a 3.0 rating in L+7).

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 48% currently, from 44% 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), 05/01/13.