"The Bachelor" Is Up Over Its Season Premiere

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

With The Bachelor and Castle, ABC earned second place on Monday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, outdelivering original lineups on both NBC (The Biggest Loser/Deception) and Fox (Bones/Bones). The Net dominated the night in Women 18-34, beating runner up CBS by 22%. ABC delivered an 8-week high on the evening among Adults 18-49 with regular programming - since 11/19/12.

Up over its week-ago season premiere in Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%), ABC's The Bachelor finished #2 in its 2-hour time period to CBS' comedy block. The ABC unscripted series won its time slot among its core audience of Women 18-34 to finish as Monday's #1 series for the 2nd week in a row. Head to head from 8-10pm, ABC's The Bachelor beat out NBC's The Biggest Loser in Total Viewers (+19%) and Adults 18-34 (+17%), while tying in Adults 18-49. In addition to building week to week, The Bachelor improved over its 2nd telecast last season by 9% in Adults 18-49.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle more than doubled the audience of NBC's Deception (+117%) and led by strong margins with key Adults: AD18-49 (+19%) and AD25-54 (+26%). The ABC drama ranked #1 in the hour across the Women measures (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Building for its 2nd straight original, Castle posted its most-watched telecast since November 19, 2012.

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

ABC Outperforms NBC and Fox on Monday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

ABC's "The Bachelor" Grows Week to Week and Year to Year in Adults 18-49, While Leading its Time-Slot and Ranking as Monday's No. 1 TV Series in Women 18-34

"Castle" More than Doubles the Audience of NBC's "Deception" With its Most-Watched Telecast Since November

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

With "The Bachelor" and "Castle," ABC earned second place on Monday in Total Viewers (8.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.2/6), outdelivering original lineups on both NBC ("The Biggest Loser"/"Deception" - 5.6 million and 2.1/5) and Fox ("Bones"/"Bones" - 7.9 million and 2.1/5). The Net dominated the night in Women 18-34, beating runner up CBS by 22% (2.8/8 vs. 2.3/6). ABC delivered an 8-week high on the evening among Adults 18-49 with regular programming - since 11/19/12.

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

Up over its week-ago season premiere in Total Viewers (+7% - 7.4 million vs. 6.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.4/6 vs. 2.3/6), ABC's "The Bachelor" finished No. 2 in its 2-hour time period to CBS' comedy block. The ABC unscripted series won its time slot among its core audience of Women 18-34 (3.3/9) to finish as Monday's No. 1 series for the 2nd week in a row. Head to head from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelor" beat out NBC's "The Biggest Loser 14" in Total Viewers (+19% - 7.4 million vs. 6.2 million) and Adults 18-34 (+17% - 2.1/6 vs. 1.8/5), while tying in Adults 18-49. In addition to building week to week, "The Bachelor" improved over its 2nd telecast last season by 9% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/5 - 1/9/12).

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" more than doubled the audience of NBC's "Deception" (+117% - 9.1 million vs. 4.2 million) and led by strong margins with key Adults: AD18-49 (+19% - 1.9/5 vs. 1.6/4) and AD25-54 (+26% - 2.4/6 vs. 1.9/5). The ABC drama ranked No. 1 in the hour across the Women measures (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Building for its 2nd straight original, "Castle" posted its most-watched telecast since November 19, 2012.

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 47% currently, from 43% at the same point in 2012. 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), 1/14/12.