ABC Wins Wednesday with 4 of the Top 5 Shows - The Middle is Up to Tie an 8-Week High

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 6.2 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49): ABC won Wednesday by double digits in Adults 18-49 (1.9/7), leading CBS by 12% (1.7/6), Fox's prime with a 2-hour American Idol by 19% (1.6/5) and NBC with its Chicago PD/L&O: SVU crossovers by 27% (1.5/5). Delivering 4 of the Top 5 shows on the night, Modern Family was Wednesday's #1 TV show for its 4th straight original with Adults 18-49, The Goldbergs was the #2 show (tied w/Survivor), while The Middle and black-ish tied for #4 on the night.

· The Net spiked from the year-ago night with an all-original schedule (5.7 million and 1.6/5 on 4/30/14) by 9% in Total Viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49, as each of its Wednesday programs were up year to year in their time periods with young adults. In fact season to date, ABC's Wednesday is growing in both Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 7.3 million and 2.0/8 in AD18-49): At 8pm, The Middle built week to week by 11% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/8 vs. 1.8/7) to match an 8-week high - since 3/4/15. Season to date, The Middle is gaining Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%) over the same point last year.

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 6.7 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49): Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 8:30pm, The Goldbergs held even week to week (2.1/7). Season to date, the ABC sophomore comedy is surpassing its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, improving its half-hour year to year by 50% and building on its own performance on Tuesday at 9pm by 17%.

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 7.9 million and 2.9/9 in AD18-49): Growing 38% from its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9pm, ABC's Modern Family led its half-hour by 61% and held even with its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating (2.9/9). The ABC comedy was up over its year-ago telecast by 4% in Adults 18-49.

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.0 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49): In the 9:30pm slot, ABC's black-ish was #1 in its half-hour for the 2nd week in a row, beating runner-up NBC's Chicago PD by 11% (2.0/6 vs. 1.8/6). The show was on par week to week in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 2.1/6). Season to date, black-ish its boosting its half-hour for ABC by 3.0 million viewers and by 48% in Adults 18-49 over the comparable weeks last year.

Nashville (10-11pm - 4.8 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49): During the 10pm hour, ABC's Nashville held steady in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4) to equal a 2-month high - since 3/4/15. The ABC drama was also up over its year-ago telecast by 8% in Adults 18-49. From 10-11pm, Nashville beat CBS' CSI: Cyber by 8% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.2/4).

Quick Take for Wednesday, April 29, 2015 (National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC Wins the First Wednesday of the May Sweep and Spikes 19% Year to Year

"The Middle" Builds 11% Week to Week to Tie an 8-Week High in Adults 18-49

At 8:30pm, ABC's "The Goldbergs" Beats "Idol" by 31% in Adults 18-49

"Modern Family" is Wednesday's No. 1 TV Show for its 4th Straight Original

"black-ish" is No. 1 in its Slot for the 2nd Week in a Row in Adults 18-49

"Nashville" Holds Steady at a 2-Month High and Gains Year to Year in Adults 18-49

Wednesday (04/29/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections:

"The Middle:" L3 = 9.1 mil/2.4 rtg, L7 = 9.7 mil/2.6 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 3.0 rtg

"The Goldbergs:" L3 = 9.0 mil/2.7 rtg, L7 = 9.6 mil/2.9 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 3.3 rtg

"Modern Family:" L3 = 11.9 mil/4.2 rtg, L7 = 13.2 mil/4.6 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 5.9 rtg

"black-ish:" L3 = 8.2 mil/2.7 rtg, L7 = 8.8 mil/2.8 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 3.5 rtg

"Nashville:" Live + 3 = 7.5 mil/1.9 rtg, L7 = 8.1 mil/2.1 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.6 rtg

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Wednesday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.2 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):

ABC won the first Wednesday of the 2015 May Sweep by double digits in Adults 18-49 (1.9/7), leading CBS by 12% (1.7/6), Fox's prime with a 2-hour "American Idol" by 19% (1.6/5) and NBC with its "Chicago PD"/"L&O: SVU" crossovers by 27% (1.5/5). Delivering 4 of the Top 5 series on the night in Adults 18-49, ABC's "Modern Family" was Wednesday's No. 1 TV show for its 4th straight original, "The Goldbergs" was the No. 2 series (tied w/"Survivor"), while "The Middle" and "black-ish" tied for No. 4.

· The Net surged from the year-ago night with an all-original schedule (5.7 million and 1.6/5 on 4/30/14) by 9% in Total Viewers and by 19% in Adults 18-49, as each of its Wednesday programs were up year to year in their time periods with young adults. In fact season to date, ABC's Wednesday is growing in both Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 7.3 million and 2.0/8 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against "Survivor," "The Middle" tied the CBS unscripted show for No. 1 in Adults 18-49, while beating "Idol" for the 6th week running in the half-hour (+18% - 2.0/8 vs. 1.7/6). The ABC comedy built week to week by 11% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/8 vs. 1.8/7) to match an 8-week high (since 3/4/15) and also topped its year-ago telecast by 11%.

· Season to date, "The Middle" is up in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

"The Goldbergs" (8:30-9:00 p.m. - 6.7 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):

Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 8:30 p.m., "The Goldbergs" outdelivered "Idol" in the slot for its 7th consecutive original (+31% - 2.1/7 vs. 1.6/6). The show was steady week to week in Adults 18-49.

· Season to date, the ABC sophomore is surpassing its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, improving its half-hour year to year by 50% and building on its own performance on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. by 17%.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m. - 7.9 million and 2.9/9 in AD18-49):

Growing 38% from its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" won its half-hour by 61% over its nearest competition (2.9/9 vs. 1.8/6 for NBC's "Chicago PD") and held even with its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating. The ABC comedy was up over its year-ago telecast by 4% in Adults 18-49.

"black-ish" (9:30-10:00 p.m. - 6.0 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):

In the 9:30 p.m. slot, ABC's "black-ish" was No. 1 in its half-hour for the 2nd week in a row, beating NBC's "Chicago PD" (+11% - 2.0/6 vs. 1.8/6). The show was on par week to week in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 2.1/6).

· Season to date, "black-ish" is boosting its half-hour for ABC by 3.0 million viewers and by 48% in Adults 18-49 over the comparable weeks last year.

"Nashville" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 4.8 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Nashville" held steady in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4) to equal a 2-month high - since 3/4/15. The ABC drama was up over its year-ago telecast by 8% in Adults 18-49. From 10:00-11:00 p.m., "Nashville" beat CBS' "CSI: Cyber" by 8% in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.2/4).

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 04/29/15.