ABC Wins Monday in Viewers for the 2nd Week Running/"Castle" Continues to Grow

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

Featuring Dancing with the Stars and Castle, ABC qualified as the most-watched TV network on Monday for the 2nd week in a row, topping CBS by 1.6 million viewers (HIMYM/2 Broke Girls/Two and a Half Men/Mike & Molly/Hawaii Five-0), Fox by 5.6 million viewers (2-hour series debut of Terra Nova) and NBC by 10.4 million viewers (2-hour The Sing Off/The Playboy Club). Among Adults 18-49, ABC outdelivered Fox's prime with its highly-promoted 2-hour debut of Terra Nova and more than doubled NBC's delivery (+107%).

Growing its audience from its first hour to its second hour against CBS' Two and a Half Men-fueled comedy block from 8-10pm, Dancing with the Stars once again made ABC the most-watched net in its time period, outdrawing CBS by 2.0 million viewers. Head to head among Adults 18-49, ABC's DWTS defeated Fox's 2-hour Terra Nova debut by 10% and NBC's The Sing Off by 94%.

For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's Castle stood as the most-watched TV show in the 10 o'clock hour, besting CBS' Hawaii Five-0 (+7%) and more than tripling NBC's The Playboy Club (+205%). The ABC drama once again doubled The Playboy Club with Adults 18-49 (+123%). In addition, Castle registered as the #1 series in the hour for the 2nd week running with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC's Castle was up over it year-ago performance on the evening.

Quick Take for Monday, September 26, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Stands as Monday's Most-Watched Net for the 2nd Week in a Row

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Outdraws CBS' "Two and a Half Men"-Fueled Comedy Block by 2.0 Million Viewers

Head to Head, "DWTS" Tops Fox's "Terra Nova" Debut by 10% and NBC's "The Sing Off" by 94% in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Castle" Stands as the Most-Watched Series at 10pm, Beating CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" by 7% and More than Tripling NBC's "The Playboy Club" by 205%

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

Featuring "Dancing with the Stars" and "Castle," ABC (14.6 million) qualified as the most-watched TV network on Monday for the 2nd week in a row, topping CBS by 1.6 million viewers (13.0 million - "HIMYM"/"2 Broke Girls"/"Two and a Half Men"/"Mike & Molly"/"Hawaii Five-0"), Fox by 5.6 million viewers (9.0 million - 2-hour series debut of "Terra Nova") and NBC by 10.4 million viewers (4.2 million - 2-hour "The Sing Off"/"The Playboy Club"). Among Adults 18-49, ABC (3.1/8) outdelivered Fox's prime (3.0/7) with its highly-promoted 2-hour debut of "Terra Nova" and more than doubled NBC's delivery (+107% - 1.5/4).

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

Growing its audience from its first hour to its second hour against CBS' "Two and a Half Men"-fueled comedy block from 8:00 -10:00 p.m., "Dancing with the Stars" once again made ABC the most-watched net in its time period, outdrawing CBS by 2.0 million viewers (16.0 million vs. 14.0 million). Head to head among Adults 18-49, ABC's "DWTS" (3.3/8) defeated Fox's 2-hour "Terra Nova" debut by 10% (3.0/7) and NBC's "The Sing Off" by 94% (1.7/4).

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

For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Castle" (11.9 million) stood as the most-watched TV show in the 10 o'clock hour, besting CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" (+7% - 11.1 million) and more than tripling NBC's "The Playboy Club" (+205% - 3.9 million). The ABC drama once again doubled "The Playboy Club" with Adults 18-49 (+123% - 2.9/7 vs. 1.3/3). In addition, "Castle" registered as the No. 1 series in the hour for the 2nd week running with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC's Castle was up over it year-ago performance on the evening (11.1 million and 2.8/8 - 9/27/10).

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), 9/26/11.