ABC Tops Monday for 6th Straight Week/Castle Repeat Most-Watched Ever

Some early points for ABC's Monday, ahead of the regular press release.

Despite airing a repeat in the 10pm hour, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV net for the 6th consecutive week, outdrawing second-place Fox with its all-original 8-10pm line-up by 4.6 million viewers (14.5 million vs. 9.9 million). ABC was a strong second during prime to Fox (beating Fox by 11% in head-to-head competition from 8-10pm) in Adults 18-49 (3.3/9), outdelivering CBS by 38% (2.4/7) and NBC by 94% (1.7/5) . Although Castle was in repeat at 10pm this year but an original on the year-ago night, ABC's Monday numbers grew year to year in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 for the 6th consecutive week (14.0 million and 3.2/9 on 4/27/09).

ABC's Dancing with the Stars won its time period for the 6th week running in both Total Viewers (20.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.3/12), leading second-place Fox with originals of House and 24 by 10.0 million viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49 (Fox = 10.2 million and 3.7/11). DWTS registered as Monday's most-watched television series for the 6th week in a row. The ABC dance performance program was also the night's #1 TV series with Adults 18-49 for the 5th time in 6 telecasts.

ABC's Romantically Challenged took second the 9:30pm half-hour in Total Viewers (10.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/7-tie) and across key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In fact the new ABC comedy outdrew the final half-hour of Fox's 24 by 10% in Total Viewers (24 = 9.1 million). For the 2nd week in a row, Romantically Challenged improved its time period for ABC, over original comedy programming on the year ago night, boosting the slot year to year by 11% in Total Viewers and by 23% in Adults 18-49 (Surviving Suburbia on 4/27/09 = 9.0 million and 2.2/5). Romantically Challenged exhibited strong retention of its week-ago series debut in viewers (93%) and young adults (93%).

ABC's repeat Castle finished #1 in Monday's 10 o'clock hour among Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/6-tie), the ABC sophomore drama's 4th time in 6 telecasts to top its hour on both Nielsen measures. Castle registered the series' most-watched repeat ever and its second-highest-ever replay with Adults 18-49.

Please Note: DWTS aired from 8-9:32pm and Romantically Challenged from 9:32-10:00pm, so the numbers for both programs will adjust this afternoon with the release of Nielsen's National Program Ratings.

Quick Take for Monday, April 26, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net and is Up over the Year-Ago Night In Both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 for the 6th Consecutive Week

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Leads its Time Slot in Viewers and Young Adults for the 6th Week in a Row

Improving its Time Period for ABC Year to Year, "Romantically Challenged" Takes Second in its Half-Hour in Viewers, Topping Fox's "24" for the Second Straight Week

"Castle" is No. 1 at 10pm in Viewers and Young Adults for the 4th Time in 6 Weeks, Drawing its Most-Watched Repeat Ever and Second-Best-Ever in Adults 18-49

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

Despite airing a repeat in the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV net for the 6th consecutive week, outdrawing second-place Fox with its all-original 8:00-10:00 p.m. line-up by 4.6 million viewers (14.5 million vs. 9.9 million). ABC was a strong second during prime to Fox (beating Fox by 11% in head-to-head competition from 8:00-10:00 p.m.) in Adults 18-49 (3.3/9), outdelivering CBS by 38% (2.4/7) and NBC by 94% (1.7/5).

· Although "Castle" was in repeat at 10:00 p.m. this year but an original on the year-ago night, ABC's Monday numbers grew year to year in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 for the 6th consecutive week (14.0 million and 3.2/9 on 4/27/09).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:30 p.m.)

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" won its time period for the 6th week running in both Total Viewers (20.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.3/12), leading second-place Fox with originals of "House" and "24" by 10.0 million viewers and by 16% in Adults 18-49 (Fox = 10.2 million and 3.7/11). "DWTS" registered as Monday's most-watched television series for the 6th week in a row. The ABC dance performance program was also the night's No. 1 TV series with Adults 18-49 for the 5th time in 6 telecasts.

"Romantically Challenged" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Romantically Challenged" took second in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour in Total Viewers (10.0 million), Adults 18-49 (2.7/7-tie) and across key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In fact the new ABC comedy outdrew the final half-hour of Fox's "24" by 10% in Total Viewers ("24" = 9.1 million). For the 2nd week in a row, "Romantically Challenged" improved its time period for ABC, over original comedy programming on the year ago night, boosting the slot year to year by 11% in Total Viewers and by 23% in Adults 18-49 ("Surviving Suburbia" on 4/27/09 = 9.0 million and 2.2/5). "Romantically Challenged" exhibited solid retention of its week-ago series debut in viewers (93%) and young adults (93%).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's repeat "Castle" finished No. 1 in Monday's 10 o'clock hour among Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/6-tie), the ABC sophomore drama's 4th time in 6 telecasts to top its hour on both Nielsen measures.

· "Castle" registered the series' most-watched repeat ever and its second-highest-ever replay with Adults 18-49.

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), 4/26/10.