ABC's Wednesday Lineup Returns To Original With Across-The-Board Increases

Wednesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

With its schedule returning to originals for the first time in a month, ABC led the pack on the first Wednesday of 2012 by wide margins, beating out CBS by 1.2 million viewers (9.4 million vs. 8.2 million) and by 65% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/9 vs. 2.0/5). In fact, ABC ran as the top-rated broadcaster in all 6 half-hours of the night among Adults 18-49. ABC scored its strongest Wednesday with its regular lineup in 10 weeks with viewers, and in 9 weeks with young adults - since 10/26/11 and 11/2/11, respectively.

* "Modern Family" finished as the definitive No. 1 TV series on Wednesday in viewers and young adults. In fact, ABC's "Modern Family" is on track to finish as the week's top-rated scripted show and as TV's No. 1 comedy in Adults 18-49, outdelivering CBS' original "Two and a Half Men" by 24% this past Monday (5.6/14 vs. 4.5/10).

* As the Network was up across its schedule from the same Wednesday last year (also a night of all originals), ABC surged year over year by 27% in viewers and by 22% in young adults (7.4 million and 2.7/8 on 1/5/11).

* Despite facing championship college football on ESPN (Discover Orange Bowl), ABC grew by double-digits over the last time its Wednesday lineup was in originals 4 weeks ago (on 12/7/11) in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%), with all 5 of its series posting gains.

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)
At 8:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" beat out CBS' special "I Get That A Lot" in viewers and young adults.

* "The Middle" was up over its most recent original by 1.3 million viewers (10.0 million vs. 8.7 million) and by 7% in young adults (3.0/9 vs. 2.8/8), marking the series' 3rd-highest numbers ever on both counts.


"Suburgatory" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)
At 8:30 p.m. like its lead-in, ABC's "Suburgatory" topped the second half-hour of CBS' "I Get That A Lot" in viewers and young adults.  

* Rising over its most recent first-run in viewers (+9% - 8.7 million vs. 8.0 million) and young adults (+4% - 2.9/8 vs. 2.8/8), "Suburgatory" drew its biggest audience in 10 weeks - since 10/26/11.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
Gaining on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" registered as Wednesday's No. 1 TV series in Adults 18-49 for its 10th consecutive first-run telecast this season.

* Building on its last original by 15% in viewers (14.0 million vs. 12.2 million) and by 10% in young adults (5.6/14 vs. 5.1/13), "Modern Family" attracted the series' 3rd-largest audience ever and equaled a 9-week high among Adults 18-49 (since 11/2/11).

"Happy Endings" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)
During the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Happy Endings" more than doubled the second half-hour of Fox's "Mobbed" premiere in Total Viewers (+133% - 7.7 million vs. 3.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+154% - 3.3/8 vs. 1.3/3).

* Surging over its most recent original with viewers (+20%) and young adults (+18%), "Happy Endings" generated its 2nd-most-watched-ever telecast and its 3rd-highest-ever Adult 18-49 number.

"Revenge" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
From 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC freshman drama "Revenge" finished as the No. 1 entertainment show in its time period among Adults 18-49 (2.5/7).

* ABC's "Revenge" was up over its last first-run telecast in viewers (+10% - 8.0 million vs. 7.3 million) and young adults (+4% - 2.5/7 vs. 2.4/6), marking a 7-week high on both counts - since 11/16/11.