ABC Finishes as Monday's Most-Watched Net with "Dancing" and "Castle"

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

Please Note: ABC was pre-empted in Tampa Bay for local coverage of ESPN's Monday Night Football game (Buccaneers-Colts), so the Fast Affiliate numbers are subject to change once the National ratings are issued this afternoon.

With Dancing with the Stars and Castle, ABC registered as Monday's most-watched TV network overall, topping CBS by 2.5 million viewers (HIMYM/2 Broke Girls/Two and a Half Men/Mike & Molly/Hawaii Five-0), Fox by 5.9 million viewers (Terra Nova/House season opener) and NBC by 10.5 million viewers (2-hour The Sing Off/The Playboy Club). It was ABC's 3rd straight week to hold the #1 network position on the evening.

Building its audience from its first hour to its second hour opposite CBS' Two and a Half Men-fueled comedy block from 8-10pm, Dancing with the Stars made ABC the biggest draw in its time slot for the 3rd consecutive week, topping CBS by 3.4 million viewers, Fox by 7.5 million viewers and NBC by 11.6 million viewers. Head to head against its unscripted competition in the 2-hour time slot, ABC's Dancing outdelivered NBC's Sing Off by 72% with young adults.

For the 3rd week running, ABC's Castle qualified as the most-watched TV series in Monday's 10pm hour, besting CBS' Hawaii Five-0 (+6%) and more than tripling NBC's The Playboy Club (+241%). The ABC drama more than doubled The Playboy Club's numbers with Adults 18-49 (+117%). ABC's Castle increased its overall audience by 7% from the same night last year, gaining year to year for its 3rd time in as many telecasts this season.

Quick Take for Monday, October 3, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Ranks as Monday's No. 1 Net in Total Viewers for the 3rd Consecutive Week

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Tops CBS' "Two and a Half Men"-Fueled Comedy Block by 3.4 Million Viewers

For the 3rd Week in a Row, ABC's "Castle" is the Most-Watched Series at 10pm, Beating CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" by 6% and NBC's "The Playboy Club" by 241%

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

With "Dancing with the Stars" and "Castle," ABC (14.9 million) registered as Monday's most-watched TV network overall, topping CBS by 2.5 million viewers (12.4 million - "HIMYM"/"2 Broke Girls"/"Two and a Half Men"/"Mike & Molly"/"Hawaii Five-0"), Fox by 5.9 million viewers (9.0 million - "Terra Nova"/"House" season opener) and NBC by 10.5 million viewers (4.4 million - 2-hour "The Sing Off"/"The Playboy Club"). It was ABC's 3rd straight week to hold the No. 1 network position on the evening.

Please Note: ABC was pre-empted in Tampa Bay for local coverage of ESPN's "Monday Night Football" game (Buccaneers-Colts), so the Fast Affiliate numbers are subject to change once the National ratings are issued this afternoon.

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

Building its audience from its first hour to its second hour opposite CBS' "Two and a Half Men" -fueled comedy block from 8:00-10:00 p.m., "Dancing with the Stars" (16.5 million) made ABC the biggest draw in its time slot for the 3rd consecutive week, topping CBS by 3.4 million viewers (13.1 million), Fox by 7.5 million viewers (9.0 million) and NBC by 11.6 million viewers (4.9 million). Head to head against its unscripted competition in the 2-hour time slot, ABC's "Dancing" outdelivered NBC's "The Sing Off" by 72% with young adults (3.1/7 vs. 1.8/4).

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

For the 3rd week running, ABC's "Castle" (11.6 million) qualified as the most-watched TV series in Monday's 10:00 p.m. hour, besting CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" (+6% - 10.9 million) and more than tripling NBC's "The Playboy Club" (+241% - 3.4 million). The ABC drama more than doubled "The Playboy Club's" numbers with Adults 18-49 (+117% - 2.6/6 vs. 1.2/3).

· ABC's "Castle" increased its overall audience by 7% from the same night last year (10.8 million), gaining year to year for its 3rd time in as many telecasts this season.

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), 10/3/11.