ABC's Wednesday Comedy Block Returns at #1 from 8-10pm/The Middle is Up and Modern is the Night's Dominant #1 TV Show

ABC's Wednesday Comedy Block (8-10pm - 7.0 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49): ABC's 8-10pm Wednesday comedies returned to originals for the first time in 4 weeks (since 12/11/13) to win the 2-hour time period in Adults 18-49, leading runner-up CBS by 10% (2.2/6 vs. 2.0/6). The Net aired an encore of David Blaine: Real or Magic from 10-11pm (3.8 million and 1.4/4).

· ABC's Modern Family was Wednesday's dominant #1 TV program in Adults 18-49 by 52% over #2 CBS' People's Choice Awards (3.5/10 vs. 2.3/7), standing as the night's top-rated series on each original airing this season.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 8.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 8pm, The Middle dominated its half-hour and returned up over its last original in Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%) to its biggest audience in 8 weeks and its best young adult number in 7 weeks - since 11/13/13 and 11/20/13, respectively.

Super Fun Night-SP (8:30-9pm - 4.9 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

At 8:30pm, Super Fun Night held even with ABC's last original comedy telecast in the half-hour in Adults 18-49.

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.5 million and 3.5/10 in AD18-49):

More than doubling its lead-in at 9pm (+133%) to win its half-hour by 52% in Adults 18-49 over CBS' People's Choice Awards (3.5/10 vs. 2.3/6), Modern Family held even with its last original in Adults 18-49 to equal an 8-week high - since 11/13/13.

Super Fun Night (9:30-10pm - 4.9 million and 1.8/5 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30pm half-hour, Super Fun Night came back steady with its last first-run airing in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Wednesday, January 8, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Wednesday Comedy Block Comes Back to Original with a Win from 8-10pm

"The Middle" Returns Up to Earn its Strongest Performance Since November

ABC's "Modern Family" is Wednesday's Dominant No. 1 TV Show, Leading Runner-Up CBS' "The People's Choice Awards" by 52% in Adults 18-49

ABC Wednesday Comedy Block (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 7.0 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49):

ABC's 8:00-10:00 p.m. Wednesday comedies returned to originals for the first time in 4 weeks (since 12/11/13) to win the 2-hour time period in Adults 18-49, leading runner-up CBS by 10% (2.2/6 vs. 2.0/6). The Net aired an encore of "David Blaine: Real or Magic" in the 10 o'clock hour (3.8 million and 1.4/4).

· ABC's "Modern Family" was Wednesday's dominant No. 1 TV program in Adults 18-49 by 52% over No. 2 CBS' "People's Choice Awards" (3.5/10 vs. 2.3/7), standing as the night's top-rated series on each original airing this season.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 8.8 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., "The Middle" dominated its half-hour and returned up over its last original in Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%) to its biggest audience in 8 weeks and its best young adult number in 7 weeks - since 11/13/13 and 11/20/13, respectively.

"Super Fun Night" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 4.9 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., a special airing of "Super Fun Night" held even with ABC's last original comedy telecast in the half-hour in Adults 18-49. Please Note: "Suburgatory" will have its season premiere in the time period next week (1/15/14).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.5 million and 3.5/10 in AD18-49):

More than doubling its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+133%) to win its half-hour by 52% in Adults 18-49 over CBS' "People's Choice Awards" (3.5/10 vs. 2.3/6), "Modern Family" held even with its last original in Adults 18-49 to equal an 8-week high - since 11/13/13.

"Super Fun Night" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 4.9 million and 1.8/5 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, "Super Fun Night" came back steady with its last first-run airing in Adults 18-49.

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 49% currently, from 47% at the same point in 2013. 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 for 01/08/14.