"Super Fun Night" Opens with Best Retention and as ABC's Top Fall Comedy Debut Out of "Modern Family" in 4 Years

Super Fun Night (9:30-10pm - 8.2 million and 3.2/9 in AD18-49): Delivering greatly improved Adult 18-49 lead-in retention out of Modern Family (76% - best retention for any regular comedy debut in the slot in 4 years - since 9/23/09), ABC's Super Fun Night debuted at a dominant #1 in the 9:30pm half hour and as the #2 TV show on Wednesday, behind only Modern Family. It ranks as the season's #2 new comedy debut, behind only CBS' Big Bang-led Crazy Ones. ABC now has 2 of the Top 3 new comedy premieres this season with Super Fun Night and The Goldbergs. Super Fun Night is ABC's highest-rated regular Wednesday Fall comedy debut in the half-hour since 2009 - since 9/23/09.

ABC is #1 on Wednesday with the Top 2 Shows in Modern Family and Super Fun Night

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 7.6 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49): ABC ranked #1 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (tie) for the 2nd straight week. Also for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's Modern Family was the dominant #1 TV show of the night across all key Adult demos. The Net was up over the year Wednesday by 14% in young adults (2.2/6 on 10/3/12).

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 7.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): ABC's The Middle took second at 8pm in Adults 18-49, beating Fox's The X Factor (2.1/7) and NBC's Revolution (1.6/5). The ABC comedy matched its Adult 18-49 delivery on the same night last year and grew in Total Viewers (7.7 million and 2.2/7 on 10/3/12).

Back in the Game (8:30-9pm - 6.6 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): Continuing to deliver solid Adult 18-49 lead-in retention in the 8:30pm half-hour (82%), ABC's Back in the Game beat NBC's Revolution (1.5/5) in the half-hour by 20%. Back in the Game delivered solid retention of its week-ago debut in viewers, young adults and all key Women: Total Viewers (83%), AD18-49 (82%), W18-34 (94%), W18-49 (96%) and W25-54 (91%).

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 10.9 million and 4.2/12 in AD18-49): ABC's Modern Family more than doubled its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm to dominate its half-hour. Modern Family held 100% of its week-earlier season premiere rating. L+3 Ratings: Last week's season premiere of Modern Family added on +1.6 rating points in the Live + 3 Day data to deliver a 5.8 rating.

Super Fun Night (9:30-10pm - 8.2 million and 3.2/9 in AD18-49): Delivering greatly improved Adult 18-49 lead-in retention out of Modern Family (76% - best retention for any regular comedy debut in the slot in 4 years - since 9/23/09), ABC's Super Fun Night debuted at a dominant #1 in the 9:30pm half hour and as the #2 TV show on Wednesday, behind only Modern Family. It ranks as the season's #2 new comedy debut, behind only CBS' Big Bang-led Crazy Ones. ABC now has 2 of the Top 3 new comedy premieres this season with Super Fun Night and The Goldbergs. Super Fun Night is ABC's highest-rated regular Wednesday Fall comedy debut in the half-hour since 2009 - since 9/23/09. ABC's premiere of Super Fun Night was the #1 most social new comedy premiere so far this season (16,902 tweets).

Nashville (10-11pm - 6.0 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49): At 10pm, ABC's Nashville beat NBC's series debut of Ironside (1.4/4) by 36% Adults 18-49 and won the hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). Nashville earned better than 90% retention of its week-ago season opener in Total Viewers (92%), AD18-49 (95%), W18-34 (100%) and W18-49 (100%). L+3 Adult 18-49 Ratings: The week-ago premiere of Nashville shot up 45% (up from a 39% increase for the year-ago premiere) in the Live + 3 Day numbers, growing to a 2.9 rating (vs. a 2.0 in L+SD).

Quick Take for Wednesday, October 2, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is No. 1 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49, Growing by 14% Year to Year

ABC's "The Middle" is Up from its Year-Ago Telecast in Total Viewers

ABC's "Back in the Game" Delivers Solid Retention of its Week-Ago Debut

Retaining 100% of its Week-Earlier Season Premiere, "Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd Week in A Row

Holding 95% Adult 18-49 Retention of the Prior Week's Premiere, ABC's "Nashville" Beats the Debut of NBC's "Ironside" by 36% at 10pm

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.6 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49)

ABC ranked No. 1 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (tie) for the 2nd straight week. Also for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Modern Family" was the dominant No. 1 TV show of the night across all key Adult demos.

· The Net was up over the year-ago Wednesday by 14% in young adults (2.2/6 on 10/3/12), making ABC the only year-to-year gainer.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49)

ABC's "The Middle" took second at 8:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49, beating Fox's "The X Factor" (2.1/7) and NBC's "Revolution" (1.6/5).

· The ABC comedy matched its Adult 18-49 delivery on the same night last year and grew in Total Viewers (7.7 million and 2.2/7 on 10/3/12).

"Back in the Game" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 6.6 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49)

Continuing to deliver solid Adult 18-49 lead-in retention at 8:30 p.m. (82%), ABC's "Back in the Game" beat NBC's "Revolution" (1.5/5) in the half-hour by 20%.

· "Back in the Game" held strong retention of its week-ago debut in viewers, young adults and all key Women: Total Viewers (83%), AD18-49 (82%), W18-34 (94%), W18-49 (96%) and W25-54 (91%).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 10.9 million and 4.2/12 in AD18-49)

ABC's "Modern Family" more than doubled its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+133%) at 9:00 p.m. to dominate its half-hour. "Modern Family" held 100% of its week-earlier season premiere young adult rating.

· L+3 Adult 18-49 Ratings: Last week's season premiere of "Modern Family" added on +1.6 rating points in the Live + 3 Day data to deliver a 5.8 rating.

"Super Fun Night" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 8.2 million and 3.2/9 in AD18-49)

Delivering greatly improved Adult 18-49 lead-in retention out of "Modern Family" (76% - best retention for any regular comedy debut in the slot in 4 years - since 9/23/09), ABC's "Super Fun Night" opened at a dominant No. 1 in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour and as the No. 2 TV show on Wednesday, behind only "Modern Family." It also ranks as the season's No. 2 new comedy debut, behind only CBS' "Big Bang"-led "The Crazy Ones." ABC now has 2 of the Top 3 new comedy premieres this season with "Super Fun Night" and "The Goldbergs." In addition, "Super Fun Night" is the No. 1 most social new comedy premiere so far this season (16,902 tweets).

· "Super Fun Night" is ABC's highest-rated regular Wednesday Fall comedy debut in the half-hour since 2009 - since 9/23/09.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.0 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49)

At 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Nashville" beat NBC's series debut of "Ironside" (1.4/4) by 36% Adults 18-49 and won the hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). "Nashville earned better than 90% retention of its week-ago season opener in Total Viewers (92%), AD18-49 (95%), W18-34 (100%) and W18-49 (100%).

· L+3 Adult 18-49 Ratings: The week-ago premiere of "Nashville" shot up 45% (up from a 39% increase for the year-ago premiere) in the Live + 3 Day numbers, growing to a 2.9 rating (vs. a 2.0 in L+SD).

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 45% 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), 10/02/13.