ABC Wednesday Gains Viewers Across the Board - The Goldbergs Hits Season High with 2nd Largest-Ever Audience

Wednesday (03/04/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

The Middle: Live + 3 = 10.0 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 10.6 million/2.8 rating

The Goldbergs: Live + 3 = 11.0 million/3.4 rating and Live + 7 = 11.8 million/3.6 rating

Modern Family: Live + 3 = 13.9 million/4.8 rating and Live + 7 = 15.4 million/5.3 rating

black-ish: Live + 3 = 9.2 million/3.1 rating and Live + 7 = 9.9 million/3.3 rating

Nashville: Live + 3 = 8.4 million/2.2 rating and Live + 7 = 9.3 million/2.4 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 7.2 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): ABC took second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7) to Fox with originals of Idol and Empire, beating CBS' original/premiere lineup by 10% (2.0/6 for Survivor/Criminal Minds/CSI: Cyber premiere). After Empire, ABC delivered the next 3 highest rated shows of the night in Adults 18-49, with Modern Family (3.4/10), The Goldbergs (2.5/7) and black-ish (2.3/6-tie). ABC tied a 9-week high on the night in Adults 18-49 - since 12/31/14.

· The Net was up 16% from the year-ago night in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 1.9/6) and on average season to date is up by 8%.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 8.3 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm, The Middle beat Idol and The Voice to rank #1 in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7-tied w/Survivor). Up in viewers (+11%) and young adults (+10%), The Middle drew its biggest audience in 8 weeks (since 1/7/15) and tied its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 rating this season. The Middle topped its year-ago telecast (7.3 million and 1.9/6) by 14% in Total Viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49.

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 7.9 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49): Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in by 14% at 8:30pm, The Goldbergs won its half-hour in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8), beating Survivor for the 2nd week in a row (2.4/7). Up week to week to season highs in Total Viewers (+4%) and steady in Adults 18-49, The Goldbergs delivered its 2nd-biggest audience ever and tied the series' 2nd-highest young adult rating. The ABC sophomore comedy was up sharply from its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, boosting its half-hour from the same night last year by 47% (Suburgatory = 1.7/5) and besting its year-ago Tuesday 9pm telecast by 67% (1.5/4 on 3/4/14).

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.6 million and 3.4/10 in AD18-49): At 9pm against a growing Empire, Modern Family spiked over its lead-in by 36% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/10) to rank as the #2 TV show of the night. Modern Family gained viewers (+3%) and was steady in young adults to match its best Adult 18-49 number since November - since 11/19/14. The show built on its year-ago telecast by 4% in Total Viewers and was even in Adults 18-49. Season to date, Modern Family is up by 6% in viewers and by 2% in young adults.

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.7 million and 2.3/6 in AD18-49): Opposite increasing competition in the 9:30pm half-hour from Empire, black-ish was up week to week in Total Viewers (+2% - 6.7 million vs. 6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5%) to equal its strongest young adult performance in over 3 months - since 11/19/14. The freshman ABC comedy earned second in the slot among young adults (2.3/6). black-ish delivered strong year-to-year time-period improvement in the half-hour (4.6 million and 1.7/5 for Mixology on 3/5/14) in Total Viewers (+46%) and Adults 18-49 (+35%).

Nashville (10-11pm - 5.3 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49): During the 10pm hour, ABC's Nashville was up week to week in viewers (+8% - 5.3 million vs. 4.9 million) and young adults (+8% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.3/4) to deliver its most-watched telecast since early December - since 12/10/14. In addition, the ABC drama topped its year-ago telecast in Total Viewers (+4% - 5.3 million vs. 5.1 million).

Quick Take for Wednesday, March 4, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Delivers 3 of the Top 4 TV Shows on Wednesday in Adults 18-49

"The Middle" Builds 10% to Tie its 2nd-Highest Adult 18-49 Rating this Season

"The Goldbergs" Hits a New Season High with its 2nd-Largest-Ever Audience

"Modern Family" Matches its Best Young Adult Rating Since November

"black-ish" Boosts its Slot Year to Year and Equals a More Than 3-Month High

"Nashville" Grows 8% to Deliver its Most-Watched Telecast Since December

Wednesday (03/4/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections:

"The Middle:" Live + 3 = 10.0 million/2.6 rating and Live + 7 = 10.6 million/2.8 rating

"The Goldbergs:" Live + 3 = 11.0 million/3.4 rating and Live + 7 = 11.8 million/3.6 rating

"Modern Family: Live + 3 = 13.9 million/4.8 rating and Live + 7 = 15.4 million/5.3 rating

"black-ish:" Live + 3 = 9.2 million/3.1 rating and Live + 7 = 9.9 million/3.3 rating

"Nashville:" Live + 3 = 8.4 million/2.2 rating and Live + 7 = 9.3 million/2.4 rating

Live + Same Day Fast Affiliate Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.2 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

ABC took second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7) to Fox with originals of "Idol" and "Empire," beating CBS' original/premiere lineup by 10% (2.0/6 for "Survivor"/"Criminal Minds"/"CSI: Cyber" premiere). After "Empire," ABC delivered the next 3 highest-rated shows of the night in Adults 18-49, with "Modern Family" (3.4/10), "The Goldbergs" (2.5/7) and "black-ish" (2.3/6-tie). ABC matched a 9-week high on the night in Adults 18-49 - since 12/31/14.

· The Net was up 16% from the year-ago night in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 1.9/6) and on average season to date is gaining 8% on Wednesday.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 8.3 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m., "The Middle" beat "Idol" and "The Voice" to rank No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7-tied w/"Survivor"). Up in viewers (+11% - 8.3 million vs. 7.5 million) and young adults (+10%), "The Middle" drew its biggest audience in 8 weeks (since 1/7/15) and tied its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 rating this season.

· The ABC comedy topped its year-ago telecast (7.3 million and 1.9/6) by 14% in Total Viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49.

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 7.9 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49):

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in by 14% at 8:30 p.m., "The Goldbergs" won its half-hour in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8), beating "Survivor" for the 2nd week in a row (2.4/7). Up week to week to a new season high in Total Viewers (+4% - 7.9 million vs. 7.6 million) and maintaining its high in Adults 18-49, "The Goldbergs" delivered its 2nd-biggest audience ever and tied the series' 2nd-highest young adult rating.

· The ABC sophomore comedy was up sharply from its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, boosting its half-hour from the same night last year by 47% ("Suburgatory" = 1.7/5) and besting its year-ago Tuesday 9:00 p.m. telecast by 67% (1.5/4 on 3/4/14).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 9.6 million and 3.4/10 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m. against a growing "Empire," "Modern Family" jumped from its lead-in by 36% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/10) to rank as Wednesday's No. 2 TV show. "Modern Family" gained viewers (+3% - 9.6 million vs. 9.3 million) and was steady in young adults to match its best Adult 18-49 number since November - since 11/19/14.

· The ABC comedy built on its year-ago telecast by 4% in Total Viewers and was even in Adults 18-49. Season to date, "Modern Family" is up by 6% in viewers and by 2% in young adults.

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.7 million and 2.3/6 in AD18-49):

Opposite increasing competition in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour from "Empire," black-ish was up week to week in Total Viewers (+2% - 6.7 million vs. 6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.3/6 vs. 2.2/6) to equal its strongest young adult performance in over 3 months - since 11/19/14. The freshman ABC comedy took second in the slot among young adults (2.3/6).

· "black-ish" delivered strong year-to-year time-period improvement in the half-hour (4.6 million and 1.7/5 for "Mixology" on 3/5/14) in Total Viewers (+46%) and Adults 18-49 (+35%).

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.3 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" was up week to week in viewers (+8% - 5.3 million vs. 4.9 million) and young adults (+8% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.3/4) to deliver its most-watched telecast since early December - since 12/10/14. In addition, the ABC drama topped its year-ago telecast in Total Viewers (+4% - 5.3 million vs. 5.1 million).

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2014-15 season for premiere telecast or an average for originals (excluding the premiere).

Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).

New Series: Based on similar series.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 49% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate Nielsen measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings for 03/04/15.