ABC's "Dancing" Is Up/"Castle" Beats "Hostages" by Best-Yet Margins

ABC Monday Prime 8-11pm (12.3 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49): ABC ranked as the #2 broadcaster on Monday, topping Fox by 4.9 million viewers (7.4 million) and CBS by 6.1 million viewers (6.2 million). In addition, ABC beat CBS on the night by 11% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.9/5).

DWTS 8-10pm (13.0 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49): ABC's Dancing with the Stars finished as the 2nd-most-watched broadcast of the night to NBC's The Voice, outdrawing Fox's dramas in the 2-hour time period by 5.6 million viewers (7.4 million) and CBS' comedies by 6.3 million viewers (6.7 million). Valerie Harper was the third celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition this season. Dancing was up 5% week to week among Adults 18-49.

Castle 10-11pm (10.8 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49): During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle widened its advantages over Hostages (5.1 million and 1.2/3) week to week, beating the CBS drama by its largest margins yet of 112% in Total Viewers and 67% in Adults 18-49. Castle has grown its overall audience year to year on all 3 telecasts this season.

Please Note: ABC's Monday lineup was preempted in Atlanta for local NFL coverage.

Quick Take for Monday, October 7, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC Leads Fox by 4.8 Million Viewers and CBS by 6.1 Million Viewers on the Night

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Stands as 2nd-Most-Watched Broadcast of Monday, Leading Fox's Dramas by 5.6 Million and CBS' Comedies by 6.3 Million Viewers

ABC's "Castle" Post Largest Margins Yet Versus CBS' "Hostages" In Both Total Viewers (+112%) and Adults 18-49 (+67%)

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 12.3 million and 2.1/6 AD18-49)

ABC ranked as the No. 2 broadcaster on Monday, topping Fox by 4.9 million viewers (7.4 million) and CBS by 6.1 million viewers (6.2 million). In addition, ABC beat CBS on the night by 11% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.9/5).

Please Note: ABC's Monday lineup was preempted in Atlanta for local NFL coverage.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 13.0 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49)

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" finished as the 2nd-most-watched broadcast of the night to NBC's "The Voice," outdrawing Fox's dramas in the 2-hour time period by 5.6 million viewers (7.4 million) and CBS' comedies by 6.3 million viewers (6.7 million). Valerie Harper was the third celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition this season.

· "Dancing" was up 5% week to week among Adults 18-49 (2.0/5 on 9/30/13).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 10.8 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" widened its advantages over "Hostages" (5.1 million and 1.2/3) week to week, beating the CBS drama by its largest margins yet of 112% in Total Viewers and 67% in Adults 18-49. "Castle" has grown its overall audience year to year on all 3 telecasts this season (10.6 million on 10/8/12).

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, 10/7/13.