ABC's "Dancing" Week 2 and the "Castle" Premiere Grow Year to Year

On season premiere Monday, ABC finished as the 2nd-most-watched TV network, leading CBS by 4.4 million viewers and Fox 5.1 million viewers.

Growing year to year for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's Dancing with the Stars was up over its second telecast last fall by 1.0 million viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49.

During the 10pm hour, ABC's season premiere of Castle beat CBS' debut of Hostages by 4.0 million viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49. Castle grew over its year-ago season premiere by 10% in Total Viewers and by 5% in Adults 18-49. In addition, the show was up over its last season's finale in viewers (+3%) and young adults (+5%) to deliver its best numbers since April - since 4/22/13. A big gainer via TV playback, Castle's numbers shot up last season by 3.6 million viewers and by 50% in Adults 18-49 from Live + Same Day to Live + 7 Day.

Quick Take for Monday, September 23, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC Outdraws CBS by 4.4 Million Viewers and Fox by 5.1 Million Viewers On Season Premiere Monday

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Improves on Year-Ago Week Two By 1.0 Million Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Castle" Season Premiere Builds on its Year-Ago Premiere and Season Finale In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

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

On season premiere Monday, ABC (12.7 million) finished as the 2nd-most-watched TV network, leading CBS by 4.4 million viewers (8.3 million) and Fox by 5.1 million viewers (7.6 million).

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

Growing year to year for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was up over its second telecast last fall (10/1/12) by 1.0 million viewers (13.4 million vs. 12.4 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 2.1/5). Former NFL player Keyshawn Johnson was the first celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition this season.

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

During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's season premiere of "Castle" beat CBS' debut of "Hostages" by 4.0 million viewers (11.5 million vs. 7.5 million) , by 22% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 1.8/5) and by 16% in Adults 25-54 (2.9/7 vs. 2.5/6). "Castle" grew over its year-ago season premiere by 10% in Total Viewers and by 5% in Adults 18-49 (10.5 million and 2.1/6 on 9/24/12). In addition, the show was up over last season's finale (11.2 million and 2.1/6) in viewers (+3%) and young adults (+5%) to deliver its best numbers since April - since 4/22/13. A big gainer via TV playback, "Castle's" numbers shot up last season by 3.6 million viewers and by 50% in Adults 18-49 from Live + Same Day to Live + 7 Day.

Social Activity

· "Castle" was the No. 1 most-tweeted series at 10:00 p.m. (60,122 tweets), beating the debuts of NBC's "The Blacklist" (31,086 tweets) and CBS' "Hostages" (10,879 tweets) head-to-head in the hour. This year's premiere of "Castle," which had the cast live tweeting during the episode, was up 104% over last season's premiere (29,475 tweets).

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 48% currently, from 45% 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, 9/23/13.