Wednesday was the night of split leadership with ABC and NBC finishing first in adults 18-49 followed by CBS, FOX and The CW. Overall, NBC was sole market leader in total viewers putting CBS, ABC, FOX and The CW in their places.
NBC opened the evening with an original installment of Minute to Win It at a satisfying 6.77 million viewers and a 2.2 rating/7 share among adults 18-49. One hour later, back-to-back episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit averaged 10.71 million viewers and a 2.9/8 in the demo increasing 16 percent in total viewers and adults 18-49, compared to its previous first run on December 1, 2010.
ABC aired its successful combination of The Middle (9.32 million viewers; A18-49: 2.8/9), Better With You (7.43 million viewers; A18-49: 2.5/7), Modern Family (11.76 million viewers; A18-49: 4.8/13), Cougar Town (6.74 million viewers; A18-49: 2.9/8) and Primetime: Celebrity Weight Loss - What Really Happens (4.45 million viewers; A18-49: 1.7/5).
In comparison with their previous first runs on December 8, 2010, The Middle rose by 7 percent in total viewers and 17 percent in adults 18-49, Better With You went up by 4 percent in total viewers and 14 percent in adults 18-49, Modern Family grew by 6 percent in total viewers and 14 percent in adults 18-49 and Cougar Town gained by 5 percent in total viewers and 12 percent in adults 18-49.
CBS’ Live to Dance suffered a setback on its second night drawing 7.79 million viewers and a 1.8/6 in the demo. Opposite its series premiere on Tuesday, this was a loss of 24 percent in total viewers and 25 percent in adults 18-49 and a series low in both age categories. The 37th Annual People’s Choice Awards (9.48 million viewers; A18-49: 2.7/8) performed well but slipped by 12 percent in total viewers and 21 percent in adults 18-49 versus last year.
FOX closed the night with back-to-back episodes of Human Target (6.31 million viewers; A18-49: 1.7/5), which posted gains of 10 percent in total viewers and 21 percent in the demo, compared to its previous first run on December 22, 2010, while The CW broadcasted back-to-back repeats of Hellcats (0.94 million viewers; A18-49: 0.3/1).
