ABC Dances to the Top with its Biggest Monday Since September

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

With the 14th-season premiere DWTS and Castle against all-original competition, ABC stood as the most-watched TV network on Monday night, outdrawing runner-up NBC (The Voice and Smash) by 6.2 million viewers. In addition, ABC ranked #2 the night in Adults 18-49, matching CBS (8-10pm comedy block/Hawaii Five-0) and beating Fox (House/Alcatraz) by 72%.

In viewers and young adults, ABC marked its biggest Monday since September - since 9/19/11 and 9/26/11, respectively.

Monday's most-watched TV show, ABC's Dancing with the Stars soared to the top of its time slot with an average audience of 18.5 million viewers, beating NBC's The Voice by 6.7 million viewers in head-to-head competition. In fact, DWTS became the first program this season to outdraw The Voice, as the NBC series dropped to season lows. In addition among Adults 18-49, Dancing beat out CBS' comedy block (+3%) and nearly doubled the delivery of Fox's back-to-back dramas (+94%).

· In viewers and young adults, DWTS turned in ABC's best numbers in the time period since season-premiere Monday 6 months ago - since 9/19/11.

ABC's Castle drew 11.9 million viewers on average, to finish as the most-watched TV show during the 10 o'clock hour, topping CBS Hawaii Five-0 by a season-best 32% and NBC's Smash by 78%. The ABC drama also ranked #1 in the hour with Adults 25-54. In addition, Castle defeated NBC's The Voice-led Smash among Adults 18-49.

· Jumping over its most-recent original three weeks ago (on 2/27/12) in Total Viewers (+31%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), ABC's generated its strongest performance since October - since 10/31/11.

Quick Take for Monday, March 19, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

Leading the Night in Total Viewers, ABC Scores Strongest Monday In Viewers and Young Adults Since September

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Season Premiere Generates Net's Best Numbers From 8-10pm in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 Since Season Premiere Monday

Standing as Monday's Most-Watched Show, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Becomes the Season's First Program to Outdraw NBC's "The Voice"

Hitting its Best-Numbers in Viewers and Young Adults Since October, ABC's "Castle" Tops CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" and NBC's "Smash" by Season-Best Margins in Viewers

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

With the 14th-season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" and "Castle" against all-original competition, ABC stood as the most-watched TV network on Monday night, outdrawing runner-up NBC with "The Voice" and "Smash" by 6.2 million viewers (16.3 million vs. 10.1 million). In addition, ABC ranked No. 2 on the night in Adults 18-49 (3.1/8), tying CBS (8:00 -10:00 p.m. comedy block/"Hawaii Five-0") and beating Fox ("House"/"Alcatraz") by 72% (1.8/5).

· In viewers and young adults, ABC marked its biggest Monday since September - since 9/19/11 and 9/26/11, respectively.

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

Monday's most-watched TV show, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" soared to the top of its time slot with an average audience of 18.5 million viewers, beating NBC's "The Voice" (11.8 million) by 6.7 million viewers in head-to-head competition. In fact, "DWTS" became the first program this season to outdraw "The Voice," as the NBC series dropped to season lows. In addition among Adults 18-49 (3.5/9), "Dancing" beat out CBS' comedy block (+3% - 3.4/9) and nearly doubled the delivery of Fox's back-to-back dramas (+94% - 1.8/5).

· In viewers and young adults, "DWTS" turned in ABC's best numbers in the time period since season premiere Monday 6 months ago - since 9/19/11.

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

ABC's "Castle" drew 11.9 million viewers on average, to finish as the most-watched TV show during the 10 o'clock hour, topping CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" (+32% - 9.5 million) and NBC's "Smash" (+78% - 6.7 million) by season-best margins. The ABC drama also ranked No. 1 in the hour with Adults 25-54 (3.3/8). In addition, "Castle" defeated NBC's "The Voice"-led "Smash" among Adults 18-49 (2.4/6 vs. 2.3/6).

· Jumping over its most-recent original three weeks ago (9.1 million and 2.1/6 on 2/27/12) in Total Viewers (+31%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), ABC's "Castle" generated its strongest performance since October - since 10/31/11.

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 43% currently, from 40% at the same point in 2011. 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), 3/19/12.