ABC's THE MIDDLE Beats 'Idol', 'The Voice' to Rank #1

ABC Wednesday Prime (8-11pm - 7.2 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): ABC took second on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7) to FOX with originals of Idol and Empire, beating CBS' original/premiere lineup by 10% (2.0/6 for Survivor/Criminal Minds/CSI: Cyber premiere). After Empire, ABC delivered the next 3 highest rated shows of the night in Adults 18-49, with MODERN FAMILY (3.4/10), The Goldbergs (2.5/7) and BLACK-ISH (2.3/6-tie). ABC tied a 9-week high on the night in Adults 18-49 - since 12/31/14.

The Net was up 16% from the year-ago night in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 1.9/6) and on average season to date is up by 8%.

The Middle (8-8:30pm - 8.3 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): At 8pm, The Middle beat Idol and THE VOICE to rank #1 in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7-tied w/Survivor). Up in viewers (+11%) and young adults (+10%), The Middle drew its biggest audience in 8 weeks (since 1/7/15) and tied its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 rating this season. The Middle topped its year-ago telecast (7.3 million and 1.9/6) by 14% in Total Viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49.

The Goldbergs (8:30-9pm - 7.9 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49): Building on its Adult 18-49 lead-in by 14% at 8:30pm, The Goldbergs won its half-hour in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8), beating SURVIVOR for the 2nd week in a row (2.4/7). Up week to week to season highs in Total Viewers (+4%) and steady in Adults 18-49, The Goldbergs delivered its 2nd-biggest audience ever and tied the series' 2nd-highest young adult rating. The ABC sophomore comedy was up sharply from its year-ago benchmarks in Adults 18-49, boosting its half-hour from the same night last year by 47% (Suburgatory = 1.7/5) and besting its year-ago Tuesday 9pm telecast by 67% (1.5/4 on 3/4/14).

Modern Family (9-9:30pm - 9.6 million and 3.4/10 in AD18-49): At 9pm against a growing Empire, MODERN FAMILY spiked over its lead-in by 36% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/10) to rank as the #2 TV show of the night. MODERN FAMILY gained viewers (+3%) and was steady in young adults to match its best Adult 18-49 number since November - since 11/19/14. The show built on its year-ago telecast by 4% in Total Viewers and was even in Adults 18-49. Season to date, MODERN FAMILY is up by 6% in viewers and by 2% in young adults.

black-ish (9:30-10pm - 6.7 million and 2.3/6 in AD18-49): Opposite increasing competition in the 9:30pm half-hour from Empire, BLACK-ISH was up week to week in Total Viewers (+2% - 6.7 million vs. 6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+5%) to equal its strongest young adult performance in over 3 months - since 11/19/14. The freshman ABC comedy earned second in the slot among young adults (2.3/6). BLACK-ISH delivered strong year-to-year time-period improvement in the half-hour (4.6 million and 1.7/5 for MIXOLOGY on 3/5/14) in Total Viewers (+46%) and Adults 18-49 (+35%).

Nashville (10-11pm - 5.3 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49): During the 10pm hour, ABC's NASHVILLE was up week to week in viewers (+8% - 5.3 million vs. 4.9 million) and young adults (+8% - 1.4/4 vs. 1.3/4) to deliver its most-watched telecast since early December - since 12/10/14. In addition, the ABC drama topped its year-ago telecast in Total Viewers (+4% - 5.3 million vs. 5.1 million).

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