ABC Tops Monday/"Bachelor Pad" is the Most-Watched TV Show

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

Featuring Bachelor Pad with the announcement of the cast for Season 13 of Dancing with the Stars and a repeat Castle, ABC gained 4% week to week to stand as the most-watched TV network on Monday night.

· ABC grew its overall Monday audience year to year for the 4th straight week, topping the same night last year with an all-original schedule by 4% (8/30/10).

ABC's Bachelor Pad topped all 4 of its of its half-hours, to win its 8-10pm time period by a margin of 1.3 million viewers over its nearest competition (NBC). In fact, the ABC unscripted series finished as Monday's most-watched TV show.

· ABC's Bachelor Pad increased its numbers week to week in both viewers (+5%) and young adults (+5%).

· Bachelor Pad built its overall audience year to year for the 4th week in a row, rising 3% over the year-ago evening

Up week to week in the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle attracted its 2nd-largest audience this summer and equaled a summer high with Adults 18-49.

· For the 3rd week running, the repeat ABC drama grew its hour year to year among Total Viewers (+8%), outdrawing original programming on the year-ago evening (Dating in the Dark).

Quick Take for Monday, August 29, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Stands as Monday's Most-Watched Network

ABC's "Bachelor Pad" Wins its Time Period and Ranks as Monday's No 1 TV Show in Total Viewers

ABC's "Castle" Draws its 2nd-Largest Audience of the Summer and Equals Summer High in Adults 18-49

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

Featuring "Bachelor Pad" with the announcement of the cast for Season 13 of "Dancing with the Stars" and a repeat "Castle," ABC gained 4% week to week (5.6 million vs. 5.4 million) to stand as the most-watched TV network on Monday night.

· ABC grew its overall Monday audience year to year for the 4th straight week, topping the same night last year with an all-original schedule by 4% (5.4 million on 8/30/10).

"Bachelor Pad" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Bachelor Pad" topped all 4 of its half-hours to win its 8:00-10:00 p.m. time period (6.4 million) by a margin of 1.3 million viewers over its nearest competition (5.1 million - NBC). In fact, the ABC unscripted series finished as Monday's most-watched TV show.

· ABC's "Bachelor Pad" increased its numbers week to week in both viewers (+5% - 6.4 million vs. 6.1 million) and young adults (+5% - 2.0/6 vs. 1.9/5).

· "Bachelor Pad" built its overall audience year to year for the 4th week in a row, rising 3% over the year-ago evening (6.2 million).

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

Up week to week in the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" attracted its 2nd-largest audience (4.1 million) this summer and equaled a summer high with Adults 18-49 (0.9/2).

· For the 3rd week running, the repeat ABC drama grew its hour year to year among Total Viewers (+8%), outdrawing original programming on the year-ago evening (3.7 million with "Dating in the Dark").

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 42% currently, from 38% 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), 8/29/11.