Modern Family is Wednesday’s No. 1 Scripted TV Show for its 5th Straight Original Airing

via press release:

ABC Marks its Strongest Wednesday in 4 Weeks in Viewers and Young Adults ABC’s “Scrubs” Posts its Best Numbers Since December in Viewers and Adults 18-49

Building on its Lead-in and Growing its Numbers Week to Week, ABC’s “The Middle” Places a Strong No. 2 at 8:30pm in Adults 18-49, Beating its CBS Comedy Competition for its 6th Straight Broadcast

Jumping from its Lead-in Against Fox’s “Idol,” “Modern Family” is Wednesday’s No. 1 Scripted TV Show for its 5th Straight Original Airing, While Building Week to Week

Opposite the Final Half-Hour of “Idol,” “Cougar Town” Posts Double-Digit Increases, Improving Over the Prior Week by 15% in Total Viewers and 13% in Adults 18-49

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

In Total Viewers (5.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.2/6), ABC turned in its strongest Wednesday in 4 weeks – since 2/10/10.  The Net took second place to Fox on the evening with Adults 18-34 (1.8/6) and Men 18-34 (1.5/5).

“Scrubs SP-3/10” (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

Drawing its biggest audience in its last 8 original telecasts, ABC’s “Scrubs” pulled its strongest numbers since December with Total Viewers (4.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.5/5-tie) – since 12/8/09 and 12/15/09, respectively.   

“The Middle” (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Surging 53% from its Adult 18-49 lead-in at 8:30 p.m. (2.3/7 vs. 1.5/5), ABC’s “The Middle” took a strong second in its slot, leading its CBS comedy competition by 5% (2.2/7 – beat “Gary Unmarried” for its 6th consecutive telecast) and the second half-hour of NBC’s “Mercy” by 44% (1.6/5).  The ABC freshman finished No. 1 in its slot with Women 18-49 (2.5/7-tie), ranking as the top-rated scripted show in the half-hour for its 10th straight original airing.

• “The Middle” grew its numbers from the prior week by 7% in Total Viewers (6.3 million vs. 5.9 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7v s. 2.1/6).

“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 61% to finish as the No. 1 scripted show in its time slot for its 5th straight original telecast among Adults 18-49 (3.7/10).  The ABC freshman comedy beat out CBS’ veteran “Criminal Minds” in the half-hour by 12% in Adults 18-49 (3.7/10 vs. 3.3/9).

• “Modern Family” qualified as Wednesday’s No. 1 scripted TV show in young Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) for its 5th consecutive first-run broadcast.

• “Modern Family” was up week to week in Total Viewers (+11% - 8.9 million vs. 8.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9% - 3.7/10 vs. 3.4/9).

“Cougar Town” (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

Airing against a surging “American Idol,” ABC freshman “Cougar Town” saw its numbers jump week to week by double-digit percentages, gaining 15% in Total Viewers (6.2 million vs. 5.4 million) and 13% among Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 2.3/6).

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 30% 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), 3/10/10.