ABC Is Monday's Most-Watched Net/"Dancing" Continues to Close Gap with the "Voice" in Adults 18-49

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 12.2 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49): For the 2nd week in a row, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV network, beating runner-up NBC by 10% (12.2 million vs. 11.1 million). The Net once again earned 2nd place on the night in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6), outdelivering CBS by 25% (1.6/5) and Fox's all-original drama lineup by 43% (1.4/4). DWTS was the night's most-watched TV program overall.

Dancing with the Stars (8-10pm - 13.5 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49): From 8-10pm, ABC's Dancing with the Stars finished as Monday's most-watched TV series for the 6th week running, outdrawing NBC's The Voice in head-to-head competition by 2.5 million viewers (13.5 million vs. 11.0 million). Continuing to close ground with young adults, Dancing delivered its most competitive Adult 18-49 finish this season with The Voice, pulling within 8-tenths of a rating point (vs. a 1.1 rating point difference the prior week). In fact, Dancing took 2nd in its 2-hour time slot over CBS and Fox across all key Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54) and Teens 12-17, while tying The Voice in Kids 2-11.

· ABC's Dancing held steady with its year-ago telecast in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 on 4/22/13), while NBC's The Voice was down by 2 whole rating points, or -41% (2.9/9 vs. 4.9/14 on 4/22/13).

Castle (10-11pm - 9.6 million and 1.8/5 in AD18-49): During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle held steady with its last original (on 3/24/14) in Adults 18-49, equaling its best number in almost 3 months - since 2/3/14.

Quick Take for Monday, April 21, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Network for the 2nd Straight Week

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" is Monday's Most-Watched Series; Delivers Most Competitive Adults 18-49 Finish This Season with NBC's "The Voice"

ABC's "Castle" Equals its Best Adults 18-49 Performance in Nearly 3 Months

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 12.2 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49): For the 2nd week in a row, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV network, beating runner-up NBC by 10% (12.2 million vs. 11.1 million). The Net once again earned 2nd place on the night in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6), outdelivering CBS by 25% (1.6/5) and Fox's all-original drama lineup by 43% (1.4/4). "DWTS" was the night's most-watched TV program overall.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 13.5 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" finished as Monday's most-watched TV series for the 6th week running, outdrawing NBC's "The Voice" in head-to-head competition by 2.5 million viewers (13.5 million vs. 11.0 million). Continuing to close ground with young adults, "Dancing" delivered its most competitive Adult 18-49 finish this season with "The Voice," pulling within 8-tenths of a rating point (vs. a 1.1 rating point difference the prior week). In fact, "Dancing" took 2nd in its 2-hour time slot over CBS and Fox across all key Adults (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54) and Teens 12-17, while tying The Voice in Kids 2-11.

· ABC's "Dancing" held steady with its year-ago telecast in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 on 4/22/13), while NBC's "The Voice" was down by 2 whole rating points, or -41% (2.9/9 vs. 4.9/14 on 4/22/13).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.6 million and 1.8/5 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" held steady with its last original (on 3/24/14) in Adults 18-49, equaling its best number in almost 3 months - since 2/3/14.

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, 4/21/14.