"The Bachelor: Women Tell All" Is Up/"Castle" Posts Best Repeat in 2 Years

With The Bachelor: The Women Tell All and a repeat Castle, ABC finished a strong second on Monday in Adults 18-49 to Fox's originals (from 8-10pm, ABC beat Fox's prime). Both The Bachelor and Castle finished #1 in their respective time periods in Adults 18-49. The Net was up over the same night last year in both viewers (+3%) and young adults (+10%).

Leading up to next week's season finale, The Bachelor: The Women Tell All won its 2-hour time period among Adults 18-49, outdelivering Fox's original drama lineup by 8% (Bones/The Following). Head to head, the ABC unscripted series continued to pace well ahead of NBC's The Biggest Loser 14 in Total Viewers (+42%) and Adults 18-49 (+29%). Once again posting year to year gains, The Bachelor was up over the year-ago Women Tell All in Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%). In fact season to date, The Bachelor is up over the same point last year in both viewers (+3%) and young adults (+3%).

Although airing an encore, ABC's Castle won the 10 o'clock hour for the 3rd straight week Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact, the repeat ABC drama more than doubled the audience (+106%) of NBC's original Deception and led by 27% in Adults 18-49. Castle generated its biggest repeat numbers in nearly 2 years with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (tie) - since 4/25/11.

Quick Take for Monday, March 4, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "The Bachelor: The Women Tell All" Leads its Time Slot and Increases by 8% Over Its Year-Ago Performance in Adults 18-49

At 10pm, ABC's "Castle" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 For the 3rd Straight Week and Scores Best Repeat Numbers in Nearly 2 Years

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

With "The Bachelor: The Women Tell All" and a repeat "Castle," ABC finished a strong second on Monday in Adults 18-49 to Fox's originals (from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m., ABC beat Fox's prime). Both "The Bachelor" and "Castle" finished No. 1 in their respective time periods in Adults 18-49. The Net was up over the same night last year (3/5/12) in viewers (+3% - 7.9 million vs. 7.7 million) and young adults (+10% - 2.3/6 vs. 2.1/6).

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

Leading up to next week's season finale, "The Bachelor: The Women Tell All" won its 2-hour time period among Adults 18-49 (2.7/7), outdelivering Fox's original drama lineup by 8% (2.5/7 - "Bones"/"The Following"). Head to head, the ABC unscripted series continued to pace well ahead of NBC's "The Biggest Loser 14" in Total Viewers (+42% - 8.4 million vs. 5.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+29% - 2.7/7 vs. 2.1/5). Once again posting year-to-year gains, "The Bachelor" was up over the year-ago "Women Tell All" (8.2 million and 2.5/6 on 3/5/12) in Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

· Season to date, "The Bachelor" is up over the same point last year in both viewers (+3%) and young adults (+3%).

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

Although airing an encore, ABC's "Castle" won the 10 o'clock hour for the 3rd straight week with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. The repeat ABC drama more than doubled the audience (+106% - 6.8 million vs. 3.3 million) of NBC's original "Deception" and led by 27% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.1/3). "Castle" generated its biggest repeat numbers in close to 2 years with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (tie) - since 4/25/11.

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 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), 3/4/13.