ABC's "Modern Family" Tops "Idol" by a Best-Ever 38% in Adults 18-49 to Rank as Wednesday's #1 TV Show for the 3rd Straight Week

For the 3rd straight week, ABC aired Wednesday's #1 TV show in Adults 18-49, with Modern Family (3.3/10) continuing to increase its lead over Fox's American Idol to a best-ever 38% (2.4/7), up from a 22% advantage the prior week and a 15% advantage two weeks ago. Also outdelivering Idol on Wednesday, CBS' Survivor was the #2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 7.2 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):

Despite facing the first week of Daylight Savings Time at 8pm, ABC's The Middle held even week to week in Adults 18-49.

Suburgatory (8:30-9pm - 5.2 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49):

At 8:30pm, Suburgatory improved its half-hour year to year for ABC, up by 10% in Total Viewers over an original comedy on the same night last year (5.2 million vs. 4.7 million).

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.1 million and 3.3/9 in AD18-49):

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm (+136%), ABC's Modern Family shot to the top of its half-hour and held even with its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating.

Mixology (9:30-10pm - 4.2 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30pm half-hour, ABC's Mixology retained 94% of its week-ago Fast Affiliate Adults 18-49 rating.

Nashville (10-11pm - 4.9 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10pm hour, Nashville was up slightly over its week-ago Fast Affiliate Total Viewer number and held steady in Adults 18-49. Nashville is ABC's top percentage gainer this season via TV Playback, with originals spiking by 69% on average from L+SD to L+7 to deliver a 2.7 Adult 18-49 rating in the finals.

Quick Take for Wednesday, March 12, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"The Middle" Holds Steady Despite Facing the First Week of Daylight Saving Time

"Suburgatory" Improves its Half-Hour Year to Year by 11% in Total Viewers

Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for the 3rd Week Running, "Modern Family" Outdelivers Fox's "American Idol" by a Best-Ever 38% in Adults 18-49

Freshman "Mixology" Holds a Solid 94% of its Week-Ago Adults 18-49 Rating

ABC's "Nashville" Increases its Total Viewer Count Week to Week

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.9 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):

For the 3rd straight week, ABC aired Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49, with "Modern Family" (3.3/10) continuing to increase its lead over Fox's "American Idol" to a best-ever 38% (2.4/7), up from a 26% advantage the prior week and a 15% advantage two weeks ago.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.2 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):

Despite facing the first week of Daylight Saving Time at 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" held even week to week in Adults 18-49.

"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 5.2 million and 1.4/5 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., "Suburgatory" improved its half-hour year to year for ABC, up by 11% in Total Viewers over an original comedy on the same night last year (5.2 million vs. 4.7 million for "The Neighbors" on 3/13/13).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.1 million and 3.3/10 in AD18-49):

More than doubling its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m. (+136%), ABC's "Modern Family" shot to the top of its half-hour and held even with its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating.

"Mixology" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 4.2 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC freshman "Mixology" retained a solid 94% of its week-ago Fast Affiliate Adult 18-49 rating.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.9 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" was up slightly over its week-ago Fast Affiliate Total Viewer number and held steady in Adults 18-49. "Nashville" is ABC's biggest percentage gainer this season via TV Playback, with originals spiking by 69% on average from L+SD to L+7 to deliver a 2.7 Adult 18-49 rating in the finals.

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 03/12/14.