ABC Surges to a Dominant Monday Night Victory

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

With the second week of a shortened edition of Dancing with the Stars, a special airing of Better with You and a repeat telecast of Castle, ABC won Monday night by wide margins, outdistancing its closest competition (CBS) by 8.7 million viewers and by 68% in Adults 18-49. ABC registered as Monday's most-watched television network for the 7th week running and led the night in Adults 18-49 for the 6th time in 7 weeks.

· ABC's Monday numbers surged by double-digit percentages week to week in both Total Viewers (+11%) and Adults 18-49 (+10%).

Building its numbers in its second week of its cutback 90-minute format, ABC's Dancing with the Stars topped each of its half-hours in viewers and young adults to earn first place in its time slot for the 6th week in a row. Building steadily throughout its telecast, Dancing's numbers jumped by 3.6 million viewers and by 29% in Adults 18-49 from its first half-hour to its final half-hour. ABC's DWTS once again qualified as Monday's #1 TV show in Total Viewers (6th week in a row) and Adults 18-49 (5th time in 6 weeks).

· On Week 2 of its 90-minute format, DWTS grew over the prior week by 1.7 million viewers and by 13% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the broad-appealing ABC unscripted series hit season-highs with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

· On average, Season 12 of DWTS is up over the same point in Season 11 by 1.3 million viewers and by 6% in Adults 18-49. In fact DWTS is producing the franchise's 2nd-most-watched season ever.

In the 9:30pm half hour, a special Monday telecast of ABC's Better With You delivered a strong first-place finish among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact the ABC freshman stood as Monday's #1 scripted TV show in viewers and young adults.

· Garnering strong additional sampling on a new night coming out of Dancing, ABC's Better with You marked series-high results with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

A repeat telecast of ABC's Castle stood as the most-watched TV show in overall during the 10 o'clock hour, winning its time slot for the 4th time in its last 5 telecasts. In addition, ABC's encore Castle defeated NBC's original Law & Order: Los Angeles by a definitive 1.8 million viewers and 23% in Adults 18-49.

· The ABC drama generated its most-watched repeat this season and its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 number.

· On average ABC's Castle is enjoying its strongest season ever, rising over its performance at the same point last year in both Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

Quick Take for Monday, April 25, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Posting Double-Digit Week-to-Week Increases, ABC is Monday's No. 1 Net in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

Winning its Time-Slot for the 6th Week in a Row, "DWTS" is Up Over the Prior Week in Viewers and Young Adults, While Hitting Season Highs in Teens and Kids

Standing as Monday's No. 1 Scripted Show, "Better With You" Marks Series Highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

Winning the 10 o'clock Hour in Viewers, ABC's "Castle" Encore Beats NBC's Original "Law & Order: Los Angeles" by 1.8 Million Viewers and by 23% in Adults 18-49

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

With the second week of a shortened edition of "Dancing with the Stars," a special airing of "Better with You" and a repeat telecast of "Castle," ABC won Monday night by wide margins, outdistancing its closest competition (CBS) by 8.7 million viewers (15.4 million vs. 6.7 million) and by 68% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/8 vs. 1.9/5). ABC registered as Monday's most-watched television network for the 7th week running and led the night in Adults 18-49 for the 6th time in 7 weeks.

· ABC's Monday numbers surged by double-digit percentages week to week in both Total Viewers (+11% - 15.4 million vs. 13.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+10% - 3.2/8 vs. 2.9/8).

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

Building its numbers in its second week of its cut back, 90-minute format, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" topped each of its half-hours in viewers (21.8 million) and young adults (4.5/13) to earn first place in its time slot for the 6th week in a row. Building steadily throughout its telecast, "Dancing's" numbers jumped by 3.6 million viewers (19.7 million to 23.3 million) and by 29% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/12 to 4.9/13) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour. ABC's "DWTS" once again qualified as Monday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers (6th week in a row) and Adults 18-49 (5th time in 6 weeks).

· On Week 2 of its 90-minute format, "DWTS" grew over the prior week by 1.7 million viewers and by 13% in Adults 18-49 (20.1 million and 4.0/11 on 4/18/11). In addition, the broad-appealing ABC unscripted series hit season highs with Teens 12-17 (2.6/9) and Kids 2-11 (2.6/9).

· On average, Season 12 of "DWTS" is up over the same point in Season 11 by 1.3 million viewers (22.5 million vs. 21.2 million) and by 6% in Adults 18-49 (5.0/13 vs. 4.7/12). In fact "DWTS" is producing the franchise's 2nd-most-watched season ever.

"Better with You" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, a special Monday telecast of ABC's "Better with You" delivered a strong first-place finish among Total Viewers (11.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.6/6). In fact the ABC freshman stood as Monday's No. 1 scripted TV show in viewers and young adults.

· Garnering strong additional sampling on a new night coming out of "Dancing," ABC's "Better with You" marked series high results with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

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

A repeat telecast of ABC's "Castle" stood as the most-watched TV show overall during the 10 o'clock hour, winning its time slot for the 4th time in its last 5 telecasts. In addition, ABC's encore "Castle" defeated NBC's original "Law & Order: Los Angeles" by a definitive 1.8 million viewers (7.6 million vs. 5.8 million) and 23% in Adults 18-49 (1.6/4 vs. 1.3/3).

· The ABC drama generated its most-watched repeat this season and its 2nd-highest Adult 18-49 number.

· On average ABC's "Castle" is enjoying its strongest season ever, rising over its performance at the same point last year in both Total Viewers (+6% - 11.1 million vs. 10.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.9/8 vs. 2.8/7).

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), 4/25/11.