ABC's "Castle" Finale Hits a 14-Month High/"DWTS" Marks Most-Watched Season Ever

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

Featuring the semi-finals of DWTS and the 3rd-season finale of Castle, ABC towered over its competitors for the 3rd straight Monday of the 2011 May Sweep, more than doubling runner-up CBS with its season finales in Total Viewers and outrunning second-place Fox by 52% in Adults 18-49. For the 2nd week in a row, the Net defeated its broadcast competition in all 6 half-hours of the night with viewers and young adults. In fact, ABC stood as Monday's most-watched television network for the 10th week in a row and delivered the #1 position on the evening in Adults 18-49 for the 9th time in 10 weeks.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC generated its best Monday results in 7 weeks - since 3/28/11.

· For the 3rd straight Monday, the Net substantially improved its year-to-year May Sweep returns, surging by 4.4 million viewers and by 28% with young adults over the same night a year ago (5/17/10).

Building week to week in viewers (+3%) and young adults (+7%), ABC's Dancing with the Stars once again won each of its half-hours in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 finish #1 in its time period for the 9th time in as many weeks. The ABC dancing performance program continued to register as Monday's #1 TV show in Total Viewers (9 of 9 telecasts) and Adults 18-49 (8 of 9 telecasts).

· DWTS built over the same night last year by 2.4 million viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49. On average, Season 12 of DWTS is up over the same point in Season 11 by 1.1 million viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49, standing as the franchise's most-watched-ever season overall.

Hitting season-highs, ABC's 3rd-season closer of Castle won the 10 o'clock hour, dominating CBS' season finale of Hawaii Five-0 by 3.4 million viewers and by 32% in Adults 18-49, as the ABC drama won in their 5th straight head-to-head original matchup. In addition, on both counts Castle was the #1 TV series in its time period for 7th time in its past 8 original airings. On each of its final 7 first-run broadcast this season, ABC's Castle finished as Monday's most-watched scripted TV program.

· Building its viewer and young adult numbers for the 3rd week in a row, Castle scored its best results in nearly 14 months (since 3/29/10, with the conclusion of a high-rated 2-part episode), qualifying as the series' 2nd-highest numbers ever.

· Posting its strongest finale ever, Castle was up sharply over its year-ago season closer in Total Viewers (+3.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (+38%). In fact ABC's Castle marked its strongest season ever, building over its sophomore season averages in both Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

Quick Take for Monday, May 16, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Towers Over its Competitors for the 3rd Consecutive Monday Of the May Sweep in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

Winning All 4 of its Half-hours, "DWTS" Qualifies as Monday's Most-Watched Program for the 9th Week in a Row and is No. 1 in Adults 18-49 in 8 of 9 Telecasts

Hitting a Season-Best and the Series' 2nd-Highest Numbers Ever, 3rd-Season Closer of ABC's "Castle" Tops CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" Season Finale in Viewers and Young Adults

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

Featuring the semi-finals of "DWTS" and the 3rd-season finale of "Castle," ABC towered over its competitors for the 3rd straight Monday of the 2011 May Sweep, more than doubling runner-up CBS with its season finales in Total Viewers (18.7 million vs. 8.0 million), and outrunning second-place Fox by 52% in Adults 18-49 (4.1/11 vs. 2.7/7). For the 2nd week in a row, the Net defeated its broadcast competition in all 6 half-hours of the night with viewers and young adults. In fact, ABC stood as Monday's most-watched television network for the 10th week in a row and delivered the No. 1 position on the evening in Adults 18-49 for the 9th time in 10 weeks.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC generated its best Monday results in 7 weeks - since 3/28/11.

· For the 3rd straight Monday, the Net substantially improved its year-to-year May Sweep returns, surging by 4.4 million viewers and by 28% with young adults over the same night a year ago (14.3 million and 3.2/9 in Adults 18-49 on 5/17/10).

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

Building week to week in viewers (+3%) and young adults (+7%), ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" once again won each of its half-hours in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 to finish No. 1 in its time period for the 9th time in as many weeks. The ABC dancing performance program continued to register as Monday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers (21.4 million - 9 of 9 telecasts) and Adults 18-49 (4.4/12 - 8 of 9 telecasts).

· "DWTS" built over the same night last year by 2.4 million viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49 (19.0 million and 4.1/11 in Adults 18-49). On average, Season 12 of "DWTS" is up over the same point in Season 11 by 1.1 million viewers (22.3 million vs. 21.2 million) and by 7% in Adults 18-49 (4.9/13 vs. 4.6/11), standing as the franchise's most-watched-ever season overall.

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

Hitting season-highs, ABC's 3rd-season closer of "Castle" won the 10 o'clock hour, dominating CBS' season finale of "Hawaii Five-0" by 3.4 million viewers (13.2 million vs. 9.8 million) and by 32% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/8 vs. 2.5/6), as the ABC drama won their 5th straight head-to-head original matchup. In addition, on both counts "Castle" was the No. 1 TV series in its time period for 7th time in its past 8 original airings. On each of its final 7 first-run broadcasts this season, ABC's "Castle" finished as Monday's most-watched scripted TV program.

· Building its viewer and young adult numbers for the 3rd week in a row, "Castle" scored its best results in nearly 14 months (since 3/29/10, with the conclusion of a high-rated 2-part episode), qualifying as the series' 2nd-highest numbers ever.

· Posting its strongest finale ever, "Castle" was up sharply over its year-ago season closer in Total Viewers (+3.1 million - 13.2 million vs. 10.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (+38% - 3.3/8 vs. 2.4/7). In fact ABC's "Castle" marked its strongest season ever, building over its sophomore season averages in both Total Viewers (+8% - 11.3 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 41% 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), 5/16/11.