ABC Hits a Monday Season-High with "The Bachelor" Spiking to Its Best Premiere in 3 Years

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 8.6 million and 2.4/6 in AD18-49): Featuring the 2-hour season premiere of The Bachelor leading into Castle, opposite ESPN's down-to-the-wire BCS Championship game, ABC was the definitive #1 broadcaster on Monday, leading all 6 half-hours in viewers and young adults. In viewers and young adults, The Bachelor was Monday's #1 TV series overall and Castle was the #1 scripted program of the night. ABC posted a Monday season-high in Adults 18-49.

· The Net was up from the year-ago night with an all-original line up (7.5 million and 2.2/5 on 1/7/13) by 15% in Total Viewers and by 9% in Adults 18-49.

The Bachelor (8-10pm - 8.5 million and 2.7/7 in AD18-49): Dominating its non-sports competition from 8-10pm to rank as Monday's #1 TV series, ABC's season opener of The Bachelor spiked by double-digits year to year in Total Viewers (+23% - 8.5 million vs. 6.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% - 2.7/7 vs. 2.3/6) to deliver 3-year-highs on both measures - since 1/3/11. In addition, the show delivered a season-high for ABC in the 2-hour time period among Adults 18-49.

Castle (10-11pm - 8.8 million and 1.8/4 in AD18-49): The #1 series in the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle towered over the final hour of CBS' 2-hour Hostages finale in Total Viewers (+87% - 8.8 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+64% - 1.8/4 vs. 1.0/2).

Quick Take for Monday, January 6, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC is the No. 1 Broadcaster on Monday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Leading All 6 Half-Hours

ABC Airs Monday's No. 1 Series with "The Bachelor" And the No. 1 Scripted Program with "Castle"

ABC's "The Bachelor" Premiere Spikes 23% in Total Viewers and 17% in Adults 18-49 Versus Year-Ago Season Opener to Deliver 3-Year Highs

At 10pm, ABC's "Castle" Nearly Doubles Final Hour of CBS's "Hostages" In Both Total Viewers (+87%) and Adults 18-49 (+80%)

Monday Night 8:00-11:00 p.m. (8.6 million and 2.4/6 in AD18-49):

Featuring the 2-hour season premiere of "The Bachelor" leading into "Castle," opposite ESPN's down-to-the-wire BCS Championship game, ABC was the definitive No. 1 broadcaster on Monday, leading all 6 half-hours in viewers and young adults. In viewers and young adults, "The Bachelor" was Monday's No. 1 TV series overall and "Castle" was the No. 1 scripted program of the night. ABC posted a Monday season-high in Adults 18-49.

· The Net was up from the year-ago night with an all-original line up (7.5 million and 2.2/5 on 1/7/13) by 15% in Total Viewers and by 9% in Adults 18-49.

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.5 million and 2.7/7 in AD18-49):

Dominating its non-sports competition from 8:00-10:00 p.m. to rank as Monday's No. 1 TV series, ABC's season opener of "The Bachelor" spiked by double-digits year to year in Total Viewers (+23% - 8.5 million vs. 6.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% - 2.7/7 vs. 2.3/6) to deliver 3-year-highs on both measures - since 1/3/11. In addition, the show delivered a season-high for ABC in the 2-hour time period among Adults 18-49.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.8 million and 1.8/4 in AD18-49):

The No. 1 series in the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" towered over the final hour of CBS' 2-hour "Hostages" finale in Total Viewers (+87% - 8.8 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (+80% - 1.8/4 vs. 1.0/2).

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 49% currently, from 47% at the same point in 2013. 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, 1/6/13.