ABC's The Goldbergs Scores Series' 2nd-Best-Ever Numbers/The Middle Marks Top Results in Nearly 1 Year

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.3 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49): With its 8-10pm comedies returning to original for the first time in 4 weeks and a repeat of Galavant in the 10pm hour, ABC took a solid second Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6) to Fox with the season premiere of American Idol and the debut of Empire, beating original lineups on CBS by 25% (1.6/5 for The Mentalist premiere/People's Choice Awards) and NBC by 33% (1.5/5 for its dramas).

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 8.5 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm against Idol, The Middle built on its last original in viewers (+5%) and young adults (+5%) to deliver season highs and its top numbers in nearly 1 year - since 2/5/14 and 1/22/14, respectively. In addition, the show was up 5% over its year-ago telecast in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 on 1/8/14).

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 7.8 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49): At 8:30pm, The Goldbergs built on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+9%) and was up from its last original by 4% in viewers and 14% in young adults to post the series' 2nd-highest numbers ever (despite facing Idol for the first time ever) - best since its series debut on 9/24/13 coming out of S.H.I.E.L.D. The sophomore comedy continued to pace way ahead of its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, improving its half-hour year to year for ABC by 67% (1.5/4 for Super Fun Night on 1/8/14) and outdelivering its own year-ago Tuesday 9pm telecast by 47% (1.7/5 on 1/7/14).

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Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.2 million and 3.2/9 in AD18-49): At 9pm, Modern Family was up for its 2nd-straight original telecast among Adults 18-49 (+3%) to earn its highest rating since mid-November - since 11/19/14.

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.3 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49): In the 9:30pm half-hour, black-ish continued to greatly improve its slot year to year for ABC, surpassing the year-ago telecast of Super Fun Night (on 1/8/14) by 34% in Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 4.7 million) and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.7/5).

Quick Take for Wednesday, January 7, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"The Middle" Builds to Season Highs with its Strongest Results in Nearly 1 Year

Opposite "Idol," "The Goldbergs" Scores the Series' 2nd-Best-Ever Numbers

"Modern Family" Grows to its Highest Adult 18-49 Rating Since Mid-November

"black-ish" Improves its Slot by 34% in Viewers and by 24% in Adults 18-49

Wednesday (01/07/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"The Middle": Live + 3 = 10.2 million/2.7 rating and Live + 7 = 10.8 million/2.9 rating

"The Goldbergs": Live + 3 = 11.0 million/3.4 rating and Live + 7 = 11.9 million/3.7 rating

"Modern Family": Live + 3 = 13.3 million/4.5 rating and Live + 7 = 14.7 million/5.0 rating

"black-ish": Live + 3 = 8.4 million/2.7 rating and Live + 7 = 9.0 million/2.9 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.3 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):

With its 8:00-10:00 p.m. comedies returning to original for the first time in 4 weeks and a repeat of "Galavant" in the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC took a solid second Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6) to Fox with the season premiere of "American Idol" and the debut of "Empire," beating original lineups on CBS by 25% (1.6/5 for "The Mentalist" premiere/"People's Choice Awards") and NBC by 33% (1.5/5 for its dramas).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 8.5 million and 2.3/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "Idol," ABC's "The Middle" built on its last original in viewers (+5%) and young adults (+5%) to deliver season highs and its top numbers in nearly 1 year - since 2/5/14 and 1/22/14, respectively. In addition, the show was up 5% over its year-ago telecast in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 on 1/8/14).

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 7.8 million and 2.5/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m., "The Goldbergs" built on its Adult 18-49 lead-in (+9%) and was up from its last original by 4% in viewers and 14% in young adults to post the series' 2nd-highest numbers ever (despite facing "Idol" for the first time) - best since its series debut on 9/24/13 coming out of "S.H.I.E.L.D."

· The sophomore ABC comedy continued to pace way ahead of its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, improving its half-hour year to year for ABC by 67% (1.5/4 for "Super Fun Night" on 1/8/14) and outdelivering its own year-ago Tuesday 9:00 p.m. telecast by 47% (1.7/5 on 1/7/14).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.2 million and 3.2/9 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" was up for its 2nd-straight original among Adults 18-49 (+3%) to earn its highest rating since mid-November - since 11/19/14.

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.3 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, "black-ish" continued to greatly improve its slot year to year for ABC, surpassing the year-ago telecast of "Super Fun Night" (on 1/8/14) by 34% in Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 4.7 million) and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.7/5).

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 48% at the same point in 2014. 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 01/07/15.