ABC's Modern Family Is Wednesday's #1 Scripted TV Show

"The Middle" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Surging from its lead-in by 38% at 8:30 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" won its half-hour among Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), beating competition including the second half-hour of Fox's season finale of "Human Target" (2.1/7). ABC freshman "The Middle" also beat out its comedy competition in the slot, defeating CBS' freshman "Accidentally On Purpose" by 16% (1.9/6). In fact among young Adults, the ABC freshman comedy has been the highest-rated scripted show in its half-hour on 3 of its last 4 original telecasts.

· "The Middle" was up from its most recent original telecast by 8% in Total Viewers (6.7 million vs. 6.2 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 2.0/6).

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Opposite Fox's "American Idol" at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" built on its lead-in by 64% to finish as the No. 1 scripted show in its time slot among Adults 18-49, beating CBS' "Criminal Minds" by 13% (3.6/10 vs. 3.2/9). For its 2nd straight original telecast, ABC freshman finished in a virtual tie with "American Idol" as the No. 1 program in the half-hour with Men 18-34 (2.7/10 vs. 2.9/10).

· "Modern Family" qualified as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV show in young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) for its 8th consecutive original broadcast.

"Cougar Town" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

Airing against a surging "American Idol," ABC freshman "Cougar Town" stood as the No. 1 scripted show at 9:30 p.m. among Adults 18-34 (2.0/6), Men 18-34 (1.5/5-tie) and Women 18-34 (2.5/7). In fact it was the ABC freshman series' 3rd consecutive original airing to register as the highest-rated scripted show in its slot on all 3 Nielsen measures.

· For the night, "Cougar Town" ranked as Wednesday's No. 2 scripted TV show with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, behind only "Modern Family."

"Ugly Betty" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Surging week to week by 1.4 million viewers (5.4 million vs. 4.0 million) and by 29% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.4/4), ABC's series finale of "Ugly Betty" hit season-highs with viewers and young adults. "Betty" finished No. 1 in its hour with Adults 18-34 (1.5/5-tie) and Women 18-34 (2.0/6-tie).

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 36% currently, from 31% at the same point in 2009. 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: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 4/14/10.

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