via press release:

ABC Marks Sizeable Year-to-Year Wednesday Gains in Viewers and Young Adults

ABC’s “Modern Family” Replay Greatly Improves ABC’s Performance at 8pm

Surging from its Last Airing, “The Middle” Posts Best-Since-Debut Numbers

Finishing No. 1 at 9pm in Adults 18-49, ABC’s “Modern Family” is the

Night’s Top Show and Hits its Strongest Performance in its Last 6 Airings

“Cougar Town” Jumps Over its Most Recent Telecast by 14% in Adults 18-49

At 10pm, “In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts” Dominates “NBC’s “Leno,” and Excluding the Prior Week’s “CMAs,” Pulls ABC’s Best Results in the Slot in 8 Weeks

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

ABC took second place on Wednesday night in Total Viewers (7.3 million) and Adults 18-34 (2.1/6), while ranking as the No. 1 broadcaster with Men 18-34 (1.7/6).

• After its Wednesday lineup was preempted the prior week for the “CMAs,” ABC was up from its two-weeks-ago delivery by 1.3 million viewers (7.3 million vs. 6.0 million) and by 23% in Adults 18-49 (2.6/7 vs. 2.1/6).  In fact excluding the prior week’s “CMA” telecast, ABC posted its best Wednesday results since September – since 9/30/09.

• The Network was also up sharply from its performance on the year-ago November sweep Wednesday, growing by 24% in Total Viewers and by 30% in Adults 18-49 (5.9 million and 2.0/5 on 11/19/08).

“Modern Family” (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

At 8:00 p.m., a repeat of “Modern Family” was up 46% from an original “Hank” two weeks ago in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 vs. 1.3/4), registering ABC’s best series number in the half-hour in 7 weeks and its 2nd highest series number this season – since 9/30/09.

“The Middle” (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Building on its lead-in at 8:30 p.m., ABC’s “The Middle” took second place in its slot among Adults 18-49 (2.4/7), beating NBC’s “Mercy” by 14% (2.1/6) and Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” by 9% (2.2/6).

• Up by 26% over its most recent telecast in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 on 11/4/09), “The Middle” posted its second-highest-ever rating – best since its series debut on 9/30/09.  The ABC freshman also produced its most-watched telecast (7.1 million) since its series debut.

“Modern Family” (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Finishing No. 1 at 9:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49 (3.7/10), ABC’s “Modern Family” also registered as Wednesday’s No. 1 TV show in the key young adult sales demo (tied w/ ”Criminal Minds”).

• “Modern Family” built by 6% on its most-recent telecast in Adults 18-49 (3.5/9 on 11/4/09), matching its highest number in its last 6 airings – since 9/30/09.

• “Modern Family” is exhibiting big increases over its first-reported numbers through DVR playback, jumping by 1.3 million viewers and by an additional 7-tenths of an Adult 18-49 rating point from the initially reported Live + Same Day Numbers to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.

“Cougar Town” (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

At 9:30pm, ABC’s Cougar Town took second place in its half-hour to Fox’s “Glee” among Adults 18-34 (2.7/8) and finished No. 1 with Men 18-34 (2.3/7).

• “Cougar Town” surged 14% from its most-recent airing in Adults 18-49 (3.2/8 vs. 2.8/7 on 11/4/09) and posted a best-since-debut rating with Men 18-34.

• Like its lead-in, “Cougar Town” is producing sizeable gains over its first-reported numbers through DVR playback, increasing by 1.1 million viewers and by an additional 5-tenths of an Adult 18-49 rating point from the initially reported Live + Same Day Numbers to the Live + 7 Day DVR finals.

“In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts:  Janet Jackson” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Taking a strong second to CBS’ time-period veteran “CSI: NY” at 10pm, ABC’s “In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: Janet Jackson” topped NBC’s “Jay Leno” by 1.8 million viewers (6.6 million vs. 4.8 million) and by 64% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7 vs. 1.4/4).

• Excluding the prior week’s “CMA Awards” telecast, “In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts” drew ABC’s biggest audience in the hour and tied its best Adult 18-49 number since season-premiere Wednesday – 8 weeks ago on 9/23/09.

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 33% currently, from 28% at the same point in 2008. 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 Program Ratings), 11/18/09.  DVR Playback = 9/21-11/1/09.