ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net for the 4th Straight Week

Some early info on ABC's Monday night numbers, ahead of the regular press release.

Standing as Monday's most-watched network for the 4th week in a row, ABC delivered another decisive win on the night, outdrawing second-place CBS with its coverage of the 2011 NCAA Basketball Men's Championship game by a wide margin (+3.8 million).

Leading each of its half-hours in viewers and ranking as Monday's most-watched TV show overall for the 3rd week running, ABC's Dancing with the Stars won its time period over second-place CBS by 9.1 million viewers and by 15% in Adults 18-49. In fact it was ABC's 7th consecutive week to rank #1 in the time slot in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. Despite the stiff competition, DWTS' audience climbed from its first hour to its second hour, gaining 2.0 million viewers and by 12% in Adults 18-49.

· Outdrawing its year-ago telecast, DWTS generated its biggest audience ever against the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

Opposite the NCAA Basketball Championship, ABC's Castle stood as the #1 TV series in the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact it was the 2nd most-watched regular program on the night, behind only DWTS. Overshadowing the season finale of Harry's Law, ABC's Castle once again (3rd consecutive week) exhibited its biggest-ever winning advantage over an original episode of the NBC drama (+4.3 million viewers and +123% in Adults 18-49).

Quick Take for Monday, April 4, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Ranks No. 1 on Monday in Total Viewers for the 4th Straight Week

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Draws its Most-Watched Telecast Ever Against the NCAA Basketball Men's Championships

ABC's "Castle" Outperforms the Season Finale of NBC's "Harry's Law" by its Largest Winning Advantage in Viewers and Young Adults for the 3rd Consecutive Week

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

Standing as Monday's most-watched network for the 4th week in a row, ABC (18.2 million) delivered another decisive win on the night, outdrawing second-place CBS (14.4 million) with its coverage of the 2011 NCAA Basketball Men's Championship game by a wide margin (+3.8 million).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

Leading each of its half-hours in viewers and ranking as Monday's most-watched TV show overall for the 3rd week running, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" won its time period over second-place CBS by 9.1 million viewers (21.4 million vs. 12.3 million) and by 15% in Adults 18-49 (4.6/12 vs. 4.0/11). In fact it was ABC's 7th consecutive week to rank No. 1 in the time slot in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. Despite the stiff competition, "DWTS'" audience climbed from its first hour to its second hour, gaining 2.0 million viewers (20.4 million to 22.4 million) and by 12% in Adults 18-49 (4.3/12 to 4.8/12).

· Outdrawing its year-ago telecast (21.2 million on 4/5/10), "DWTS" generated its biggest audience ever against the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

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

Opposite the NCAA Basketball Championship, ABC's "Castle" stood as the No. 1 TV series in the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (11.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.9/7). In fact it was the 2nd most-watched regular program on the night, behind only "DWTS." Overshadowing the season finale of "Harry's Law," ABC's "Castle" once again (3rd consecutive week) exhibited its biggest-ever winning advantage over an original episode of the NBC drama (+4.3 million viewers and +123% in 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 40% currently, from 36% at the same point in 2010. 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: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 4/04/11.