ABC Airs 3 of the Week's Top 5 Broadcast Shows

During the week of February 8, 2016, ABC aired 8 of the Top 20 broadcast TV programs in Adults 18-49, including 3 of the Top 5: "Modern Family" - No. 2, "The Bachelor" - No. 3 (No. 1 unscripted show), "Grey's Anatomy" - No. 5, "Scandal" - No. 9, "The Goldbergs" - No. 13, while "The Middle," "black-ish" and "HTGAWM" tied at No. 16.

• ABC was up for the 2nd straight week in Adults 18-49 (+8% - 1.3/4 vs. 1.2/4) to a 10-week high - since w/o 11/30/15.

With "The Bachelor" and the return of "Castle," ABC ran in a near tie for No. 1 Monday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), closing the gap by 4-tenths week to week (-0.1 vs. -0.5) with Fox's Monday dramas ("The X-Files"/"Lucifer" = 2.1/7). ABC beat original Monday schedules on CBS by 11% (1.8/6) and NBC by 82% (1.1/4). ABC delivered a new season high on Monday in Adults 18-49.

• "The Bachelor" hit a new season best in Adults 18-49 and won its 2-hour time period by 19% over Fox's dramas from 8:00-10:00 p.m. (2.5/8 vs. 2.1/7). In addition, it was Monday's No. 1 TV series in Adults 18-49 (tied with Fox's "The X-Files") and for the 6th week running in Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:01 p.m. - 8.6 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:01 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelor" ranked No. 1 in its 2-hour time period in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8), Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

• "The Bachelor" gained 1.1 million viewers (8.6 million vs. 7.5 million) and 9% week to week in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8 vs. 2.3/7), setting new season highs on both counts.

"Castle" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 5.7 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49):

At 10:01 p.m., ABC's "Castle" returned even in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4) with its most recent original 2-1/2 months ago (on 11/23/15).

"Fresh Off the Boat" (8:00-8:35 p.m. - 4.2 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):

In its new 8:00 p.m. time period, ABC's "Fresh Off the Boat" took second among the broadcasters with Total Viewers (4.2 million) to CBS' top-rated "NCIS," outdrawing Fox's "New Girl" (3.1 million) head to head by 1.1 million viewers to rank as Tuesday's most watched comedy.

"The Muppets" (8:35-9:05 p.m. - 2.7 million and 0.8/3 in AD18-49):

At 8:30 p.m. in its new time slot, ABC freshman "The Muppets" outdrew its freshman comedy competition in the half-hour for the 2nd week in a row (Fox's "Grandfathered") with Total Viewers (2.7 million vs. 2.4 million).

"Marvel's Agent Carter" (9:05-10:05 p.m. - 2.7 million and 0.8/2 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Marvel's Agent Carter" held even with Adults 18-49 (0.8/2). In addition, the ABC drama jumped week to week in Adults 18-34 (+25%) and Women 18-34 (+20%).

• Record Playback Gains: In the most recent rounds of available TV playback data, "Marvel's Agent Carter" delivered new playback highs in L+3 and L+7 among Adults 18-49, with the prior week's telecast spiking +63% with just 3 days of playback (from a 0.8 in L+SD to a 1.3) and the second season premiere jumping +78% after 7 days of playback (from a 0.9 in L+SD to a 1.6).

"What Would You Do?" (10:05-11:00 p.m. - 2.1 million and 0.6/2 in AD18-49):

At 10:00 p.m. opposite increased competition week to week from original dramas on CBS ("Limitless") and NBC ("Chicago Fire"), ABC's "What Would You Do?" held even with Adults 25-54 (0.8/2).

With its Wednesday lineup returning to regular all-originals for the first time in 1 month (since 1/13/16), ABC ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6 - tied w/Fox and NBC). The Net also ranked No. 1 on the evening in Adults 18-34 (tie) and won the broadcast race with Men 18-34.

• ABC's "Modern Family" outdelivered Fox's "American Idol" on the night by 18% to rank as Wednesday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 (2.6/8 vs. 2.2/8).

"The Middle"/"The Goldbergs" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's "The Middle" and "The Goldbergs" ranked as the No. 1 scripted shows in their respective slots in Adults 18-49 and beat CBS' comedies in the hour (+19% - 1.9/7 vs. 1.6/6 for "2 Broke Girls"/"Mike & Molly"). In Adults 18-49, "The Middle" (1.8/7) and "The Goldbergs" (2.0/7) held even with their most recent originals (on 1/20/16).

"Modern Family"/"black-ish" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 6.9 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 "black-ish," holding a 16% advantage over their closest competition (2.2/7 vs. 1.9/6 - NBC's "L&O: SVU"). Also in the hour, ABC's comedies dominated Fox's "Idol"-driven "Hell's Kitchen" (+69% - 2.2/7 vs. 1.3/4). In Adults 18-49, "Modern Family" was steady with its most recent original (2.6/8 vs. 2.7/8 on 1/13/16) and "black-ish" grew 6% over its last original airing (1.8/6 vs. 1.7/6 on 1/20/16).

"American Crime" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.3 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):

In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "American Crime" was up 13% week to week in Live + Same Day Adults 18-49 (0.9/3 vs. 0.8/3). Most Recent TV Playback: Based on the most recent release of Nielsen TV Playback data issued earlier this week, ABC's "American Crime" scored its 2nd-best-ever increases in both L+3 (+63% - over last week's L+SD rating) and L+7 (+70% - over its 1/20/16 L+SD rating) among Adults 18-49.

With the return of its TGIT drama lineup for the first time in nearly 3 months (since 11/19/15), ABC was No. 1 on the second Thursday of the February Sweep in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7-tied w/Fox with a 2-hour "American Idol"), leading CBS by 11% (1.9/6) and NBC by 91% (1.1/4).

• TV Playback: As each of its Thursday dramas are among the biggest gainers this season over their Live + Same Day numbers, ABC is projected to win the night by strong margins once TV Playback is included. Season to date in Live + 7 Day Adults 18-49, "HTGAWM" spikes by +81%, "Scandal" by +64% and "Grey's" by +63% over their respective L+SD numbers.

• ABC's return of "Grey's Anatomy" (2.4/8), "Scandal" (2.1/7) and "How to Get Away with Murder" (1.8/6) delivered Thursday's Top 3 dramas in Adults 18-49, dominating the other 4 dramas on the night, including CBS' "Elementary" (1.1/4), as well as NBC's "You, Me and the Apocalypse" (0.8/3), "The Blacklist" (1.4/4) and "Shades of Blue" (1.1/4).

"Grey's Anatomy" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 8.3 million and 2.4/8 in AD18-49):

At 8:00 p.m. against CBS' "Big Bang" and "Life in Pieces," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (2.4/8) beat the first hour of Fox's 2-hour "Idol" in Adults 18-49 (+14% - 2.1/7) and tripled the delivery of NBC's "You, Me and the Apocalypse" (+200% - 0.8/3).

"Scandal" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 7.0 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):

At 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Scandal" moved up to rank No. 1 in the hour among Adults 18-49 (2.1/7-tie), beating drama competition in the hour by 50% (NBC's "The Blacklist" = 1.4/4).

"How to Get Away with Murder" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.8 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):

Towering over the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "How to Get Away with Murder" (1.8/6) returned to beat CBS' "Elementary" (1.1/4) and NBC's "Shades of Blue" (1.1/4) by 64% each among Adults 18-49.

With its annual "Charlie Brown Valentine's Day" special encore, "Shark Tank" and "20/20," ABC ranked No. 1 on Friday for the 3rd week in a row with Adults 18-49 (1.4/5). It was also ABC's 3rd consecutive night this week to rank No. 1 in the key young adult sales demo (Wed, Thurs and Fri).

• ABC's "Shark Tank" and "20/20" tied as Friday's No. 1 TV show in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6), while "20/20" finished as the night's top-rated show in the key Adult 25-54 news demo (2.3/7).

"Shark Tank" (9:00-10:01 p.m. - 6.7 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49): Spiking 70% at 9:00 p.m. from its Charlie Brown Valentine's lead-in among Adults 18-49 (the special was even year to year at a 1.0/4), ABC's "Shark Tank" led its hour by 31% over runner-up CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" (1.7/6 vs. 1.3/5).

• "Shark Tank" rose by double digits week to week in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+21%), equaling a season high with young adults.

"20/20" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 7.2 million and 1.7/6 in AD18-49): ABC's "20/20" won the 10 o'clock hour over CBS' "Blue Bloods" and ranked as Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine, dominating NBC's "Dateline" by strong double digits head to head in Adults 18-49 (+89% - 1.7/6 vs. 0.9/3) and Adults 25-54 (+77% - 2.3/7 vs. 1.3/4). "20/20" also outdrew "Dateline" by 3.1 million Total Viewers (7.2 million vs. 4.1 million). "20/20" featured "Silence Broken: A Mother's Reckoning," a Diane Sawyer special, with Sue Klebold, the mother of one of the Columbine shooters, speaking on television for the first time ever about the tragedy.

• "20/20" surged week to week in Total Viewers (+26%), Adults 18-49 (+42%) and Adults 25-54 (+35%), earning its best numbers in more than 3 months on all three measures (since 10/30/15) and matching a season high in Adults 18-49.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m. - 6.0 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):

Jumping over its last original telecast 4 weeks ago in Total Viewers (+25% - 6.0 million vs. 4.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (+50% - 1.2/4 vs. 0.8/2), ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" scored new season highs.

• "AFHV" ranked No. 1 in the 7 o'clock hour among Adults 18-49 (1.2/4), tied with CBS' "60 Minutes" and beating NBC's "Dateline" by 33% (0.9/3).

"The Bachelor at 20: A Celebration of Love" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 4.1 million and 1.1/3 in AD18-49): From 8:00-10:00 p.m., "The Bachelor at 20: A Celebration of Love" drew ABC's largest audience (4.1 million) in the 2-hour time period since mid-December and matched the Net's highest Adult 18-49 rating (1.1/3) since November - since 12/20/15 and 11/22/15, respectively.

WEEK NO. 21: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS

No.1 CBS 1.6 No.1 CBS 9,410,000

No.2 FOX 1.4 No.2 ABC 5,070,000

No.3 ABC 1.3 No.2 NBC 5,070,000

No.4 NBC 1.2 No.4 FOX 4,770,000

No.5 CW 0.7 No.5 CW 1,720,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 02/08/16.