ABC's MODERN FAMILY Builds 16% of Its Lead-In on Wednesday Night

Opposite CBS' 2-hour season finale of "Survivor" and Fox's "Empire" finale, the season finale of ABC's 8:00-10:00 p.m. Wednesday comedy block delivered 4 of the Top 6 shows on the night. ABC's "Modern Family" was Wednesday's No. 2 TV series in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7 - tied w/"Survivor") to "Empire," "The Goldbergs" followed at No. 4 (1.8/7), "The Middle" No. 5 (1.6/6) and "black-ish" No. 6 (1.5/5). Despite the increased competition, all 4 of ABC's comedies held steady week to week with each show even or within 1-tenth of its week-ago Fast Affiliate Adult 18-49 rating.

"The Middle"/"The Goldbergs" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49):
Earning second to CBS' "Survivor" from 8:00-9:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49, ABC's "The Middle" (1.6/6) and "The Goldbergs" (1.8/7) beat out their scripted competition in the hour by 21% over Fox's "Rosewood" (1.4/5) and by 143% over NBC's "Heartbeat" (0.7/3). "The Middle" held even week to week in Adults 18-49 and "The Goldbergs" was even with its Fast Affiliate rating, which adjusted up 1-tenth in the Nationals.

"Modern Family"/"black-ish" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 5.9 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): Building 16% on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" held even with is week-ago Adult 18-49 rating (2.1/7). In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "black-ish" also held even with its week-ago National Adult 18-49 rating (1.5/5), which adjusted down 1-tenth in from the preliminary numbers.

Projections Rationale:
Lifts vs. L+SD are based on 2015-16 season averages 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 5/18/16.

Photo credit: Hopper Stone

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