ABC's THE GOLDBERGS Delivers Its Most Watched Telecast Since November

For its 4th consecutive first-run telecast, ABC's "Modern Family" (2.6/8) was Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49. Coming in behind only CBS' "Survivor" (2.2/8), ABC's "The Goldbergs" (2.0/7) finished No. 3 (despite shifting back to the 8:00 p.m. lead-off position), and "The Real O'Neals" in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour was Wednesday's No. 4 TV show (1.9/6 - tied w/"Criminal Minds"). ABC ran in a virtual tie for No. 1 on the night with CBS (1.7/6 vs. 1.8/6) while beating NBC by 21% (1.4/5) and FOX by 70% (1.0/3).

"The Goldbergs" and "Modern Family" grew week to week in Adults 18-49 while "The Goldbergs" also drew its biggest audience since November (11/18/15). "The Goldbergs"/"The Real O'Neals" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.7 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's "The Goldbergs" and "The Real O'Neals" combined to dominate their scripted competition in the hour with Adults 18-49 (1.9/7), leading NBC's "The Mysteries of Laura" by 58% (1.2/4) and Fox's return of "Rosewood" by 111% (0.9/3).

Shifting back to 8:00 p.m. for one week, a "Dirty Dancing" tribute episode of "The Goldbergs" grew week to week in Total Viewers (+9% - 7.0 million vs. 6.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.0/7 vs. 1.9/6), marking its most watched telecast overall in nearly 4 months - since 11/18/15. In addition, the show surged by double-digits with Adults 18-34 (+18%) and Women 18-34 (+15%) to post its highest ratings in 2 months - since 1/6/16.

At 8:30 p.m., ABC's series debut of "The Real O'Neals" was in line with "The Goldbergs" last week in the half-hour (1.8/6 vs. 1.9/6) and topped TV's last 4 comedy premieres in Adults 18-49.

"Modern Family"/"The Real O'Neals" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 7.1 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):
ABC moved up to win the 9:00 p.m. hour in Adults 18-49 with "Modern Family" and a second episode of "The Real O'Neals," leading by 16% over its closest competition (2.2/7 vs. 1.9/6 - CBS' "Criminal Minds").

At 9:00 p.m., "Modern Family" was up for the 2nd week in Total Viewers (+1%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%), drawing its largest overall audience in 8 weeks - since 1/6/16.

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, "The Real O'Neals" ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6-tie) and held even with last week's telecast of "black-ish," which delivered a 2-month high for ABC in the slot - since 1/6/16.

"American Crime" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.2 million and 0.8/3 in AD18-49):
In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "American Crime" was steady week to week in Live + Same Day Adults 18-49 (0.8/3 vs. 0.9/3). TV Playback Gains Season to Date: On average this season, "American Crime" spikes over its Adult 18-49 L+SD rating (1.0) by 40% in Live + 3 Day (to a 1.4) and by 70% in Live + 7 Day (to a 1.7).

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 48% 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 03/02/16.

Image courtesy of ABC

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