ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net for the 9th Week Running

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

With Dancing and the season opener of The Bachelorette against competition including season finales on CBS (CBS' How I Met Your Mother/Hawaii Five-0) and a 2-hour season premiere on NBC (America's Got Talent), ABC finished as Monday's most-watched TV network for the 9th week running, outdrawing CBS by 1.5 million viewers, NBC by 3.0 million viewers and Fox by 5.1 million viewers. The Net also ranked #1 on Monday across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) and continued to dominate Fox's drama line up in Adults 18-49 (+25% advantage over Bones and House).

Building throughout its shortened 90-minute broadcast (8-9:30pm), ABC's Dancing with the Stars once again registered as Monday's most-watched TV program and jumped to the top its slot for the 9th straight week, beating NBC's season premiere of America's Got Talent by 5.6 million viewers. In addition, the wide-appealing ABC dance competition paced well ahead of Fox's dramas in the slot among Adults 18-49 (+30%) and made ABC the #2 broadcaster with Kids 2-11.

· DWTS posted best-since premiere numbers with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34 - since 3/19/12.

During the final 90 minutes of the evening (9:30-11pm), ABC's 8th season premiere of The Bachelorette finished #2 to CBS among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while ranking #1 in its time period with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). From 10-11pm, ABC's The Bachelorette defeated the finale of Hawaii Five-0 by 50% in Adults 18-34, while dominating NBC's Smash across the board: Total Viewers (+26%) Adults 18-34 (+40%), Adults 18-49 (+39%) and Adults 25-54 (+32%).

· The Bachelorette built on its Dancing lead in with Adults 18-34 and among key Women (W18-34/W18-49). In fact on all 3 Nielsen measures, The Bachelorette posted 9-week highs for ABC in the time period - since 3/12/12.

· Despite premiering against stiffer competition opposite the final half-hour of America's Got Talent and not having the advantage of opening out of the season finale of Dancing this year, ABC's The Bachelorette retained 90% or better of its year-ago premiere among key younger demos: AD18-34 (96%), W18-34 (94%), W18-49 (91%), M18-34 (90%) and M18-49 (92%).

Quick Take for Monday, May 14, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Monday's No. 1 Network in Total Viewers for the 9th Week Running, Easily Outdrawing CBS' Finales and NBC's Premiere of "America's Got Talent"

Monday's Most-Watched TV Program, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Outdraws NBC's "Talent" Opener in the Time Slot by 5.6 Million Viewers

The Season Premiere of "The Bachelorette" Builds on its "Dancing" Lead-in with Adults 18-34 to Win its Slot and Post a 9-Week High for ABC in the Time Period

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

With "Dancing" and the season opener of "The Bachelorette" against competition including season finales on CBS ("How I Met Your Mother"/"Two and a Half Men"/"Mike & Molly"/"Hawaii Five-0") and a 2-hour season premiere on NBC ("America's Got Talent"), ABC finished as Monday's most-watched TV network for the 9th week running (11.9 million), outdrawing CBS by 1.5 million viewers (10.4 million), NBC by 3.0 million viewers (8.9 million) and Fox by 5.1 million viewers (6.8 million). The Net also ranked No. 1 on Monday across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) and continued to dominate Fox's drama lineup in Adults 18-49 (+25% advantage over "Bones" and "House" - 2.5/7 vs. 2.0/6).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:30 p.m.)

Building throughout its shortened 90-minute broadcast (8:00-9:30 p.m.), ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" once again registered as Monday's most-watched TV program (15.6 million) and jumped to the top of its slot for the 9th straight week, beating NBC's season premiere of "America's Got Talent" by 5.6 million viewers (10.0 million). In addition, the wide-appealing ABC dance competition paced well ahead of Fox's dramas in the slot among Adults 18-49 (+30% - 2.6/7 vs. 2.0/6) and made ABC the No. 2 broadcaster with Kids 2-11.

· "DWTS" posted best-since premiere numbers with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34 - since 3/19/12.

"The Bachelorette" (9:30-11:00 p.m.)

During the final 90 minutes of the evening (9:30-11:00 p.m.), ABC's 8th season premiere of "The Bachelorette" finished No. 2 to CBS among Total Viewers (8.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/7), while ranking No. 1 in its time period with Adults 18-34 and across all key Women demographics (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). From 10:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelorette" defeated the finale of "Hawaii Five-0" by 50% in Adults 18-34, while dominating NBC's finale of "Smash" across the board: Total Viewers (+26%), Adults 18-34 (+40%), Adults 18-49 (+39%) and Adults 25-54 (+32%).

· "The Bachelorette" built on its "Dancing" lead in with Adults 18-34 and among key Women (W18-34/W18-49). In fact, on all 3 Nielsen measures, "The Bachelorette" posted 9-week highs for ABC in the time period - since 3/12/12.

· Despite premiering against stiffer competition opposite the final half-hour of "America's Got Talent" and not having the advantage of opening out of the season finale of "Dancing" this year, ABC's "The Bachelorette" scored strong retention of its year-ago premiere among key younger demos: AD18-34 (96%), W18-34 (94%), W18-49 (91%), M18-34 (90%) and M18-49 (92%).

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 44% currently, from 41% 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), 5/14/12.