ABC's "Modern Family" Is Up as Wednesday's Dominant #1 TV Show

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.8 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49): ABC ran a solid #2 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6), leading by double-digits over NBC (+12% - 1.7/5) and Fox (+36% - 1.4/4). The Net won the night with Adults 18-34.

· ABC's Modern Family was Wednesday's dominant # 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 by 40% over runner-up CBS' Survivor (3.5/10 vs. 2.5/8), finishing as the night's highest-rated series on each original broadcast this season.

· The Middle was up 9% week to week in Total Viewers (8.1 million vs. 7.4 million) and increased 11% over its year-ago telecast (7.3 million on 12/12/12). The show held steady week to week in Adults 18-49.

· Modern Family was up week to week by 11% in Total Viewers (10.5 million vs. 9.5 million) and by 9% in Adults 18-49 (3.5/10 vs. 3.2/9) to 4-week highs on both measures - since 11/13/13.

· Super Fun Night grew over the prior week by double digits, rising 15% in Total Viewers (5.5 million vs. 4.8 million) and 13% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.6/4).

...more to come

Quick Take for Wednesday, December 11, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is a Solid No. 2 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 and Wins with Adults 18-34

"The Middle" Grows Its Overall Audience Week to Week and Year to Year

"Back in the Game" Posts Week to Week Viewer and Young Adult Increases

Wednesday's Dominant No. 1 TV Show in Adults 18-49, "Modern Family" Is Up by 11% in Viewers and 9% in Young Adults to Deliver 4-Week Highs

"Super Fun Night" Grows by Double-Digits Over the Previous Week

ABC's Top Gainer in TV Playback This Season, "Nashville" Spikes 71% In Adults 18-49 from its Live + Same Day to Live + 7 Day Rating

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.8 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

ABC ran a solid No. 2 on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6), leading by double digits over NBC (+12% - 1.7/5) and Fox (+36% - 1.4/4). The Net won the night with Adults 18-34.

· ABC's "Modern Family" was Wednesday's dominant No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 by 40% over runner-up CBS' "Survivor" (3.5/10 vs. 2.5/8), finishing as the night's highest-rated series on each original broadcast this season.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 8.1 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

Earning second place at 8:00 p.m., ahead of NBC's "Sing Off" and Fox's "The X-Factor," "The Middle" was up 9% week to week in Total Viewers (8.1 million vs. 7.4 million) and increased 11% over its year-ago telecast (7.3 million on 12/12/12). The ABC comedy held steady week to week in Adults 18-49.

"Back in the Game" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 6.1 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

In the 8:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Back in the Game" grew over the prior week in Total Viewers (+20% - 6.1 million vs. 5.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.5/4 vs. 1.4/4).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 10.5 million and 3.5/10 in AD18-49):

Spiking 133% over its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" won its half-hour by 44% over runner-up CBS' "Criminal Minds" (3.5/10 vs. 2.4/7). The veteran ABC sitcom built week to week by 11% in Total Viewers (10.5 million vs. 9.5 million) and by 9% in Adults 18-49 (3.5/10 vs. 3.2/9) to 4-week highs on both measures - since 11/13/13.

"Super Fun Night" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 5.5 million and 1.8/5 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Super Fun Night" grew over the prior week by double digits, rising 15% in Total Viewers (5.5 million vs. 4.8 million) and 13% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.6/4).

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.7 million and 1.6/5 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" ranked No. 2 in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4-tie) against its broadcast competition and held the No. 1 position with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34 (tie).

· On average, "Nashville" is ABC's biggest percentage gainer in TV playback this season, shooting up 71% in Adults 18-49 (+1.2 rating points) from L+SD to 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 46% 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), 12/11/13.