ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Is Up - "The Bachelorette" Tops Year-Ago Premiere by 17% in Viewers

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 11.0 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): ABC finished as Monday's most-watched TV network for the 6th week running, outdrawing runner-up NBC by 9% (11.0 million vs. 10.1 million). In addition, the Net ranked a strong 2nd on the night in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), outdelivering Fox with the Bones finale and 24: Live Another Day by 38% (1.6/5) and CBS' lineup by 47% (1.5/4).

· ABC was up from the year-ago May Sweep Monday by 5% in Adults 18-49 (+5% - 2.2/7 vs. 2.1/6 on 5/20/13).

Dancing with the Stars (8-9:30pm - 15.0 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49): Shifting back to a shortened 90-minute format (8-9:30pm), ABC's DWTS Finals maintained its status as night's most-watched TV series for the 10th week in a row (on each telecast this season), topping NBC's The Voice Monday finale (8-10pm) by 3.5 million viewers (15.0 million vs. 11.5 million). The #2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49, Dancing's Monday finale closed the gap year to year with The Voice's Monday finale, shrinking the margin to 6-tenths of a rating point last night (2nd closest finish ever for any telecast) as compared to a 9-tenths difference on the year-ago night.

· Dancing was up for the 2nd straight week to week in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+9%). In addition, the show posted its strongest Monday finale in 5 seasons with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34 - since Fall 211.

The Bachelorette (9:30-11pm - 7.0 million and 1.9/5 in AD18-49): Despite starting out against the final half-hour of NBC's The Voice at 9:30pm, ABC's The Bachelorette was up 17% from its year-ago premiere in Total Viewers (7.0 million vs. 6.0 million) and held even in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5). The Bachelorette won its 90-minute time period in Women 18-34 and stood as the #2 TV show of the night to The Voice in Adults 18-34 (tied w/Dancing) and Women 18-34.

Quick Take for Monday, May 19, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net for the 6th Week Running

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Monday Finale Stands As the Night's Most-Watched TV Series, Leading NBC's "The Voice" by 3.5 Million Viewers

ABC's "The Bachelorette" is Up by 17% in Total Viewers From its Year-Ago Premiere, And Leads its Time-Slot in its Core Women 18-34 Demo

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 11.0 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

ABC finished as Monday's most-watched TV network for the 6th week running, outdrawing runner-up NBC by 9% (11.0 million vs. 10.1 million). In addition, the Net ranked a strong 2nd on the night in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), outdelivering Fox with the "Bones" finale and "24: Live Another Day" by 38% (1.6/5) and CBS' lineup by 47% (1.5/4).

· ABC was up from the year-ago May Sweep Monday by 5% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/7 vs. 2.1/6 on 5/20/13).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:30 p.m. - 15.0 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49):

Shifting back to a shortened 90-minute format (8:00-9:30 p.m.), ABC's "DWTS" Finals maintained its status as night's most-watched TV series for the 10th week in a row (on each telecast this season), topping NBC's "The Voice" Monday finale (8:00-10:00 p.m.) by 3.5 million viewers (15.0 million vs. 11.5 million). The No. 2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49, "Dancing's" Monday finale closed the gap year to year with "The Voice's" Monday finale, shrinking the margin to 6-tenths of a rating point last night (2nd closest finish ever for any telecast) as compared to a 9-tenths difference on the year-ago night.

· "Dancing" was up for the 2nd straight week to week in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+9%). In addition, the show posted its strongest Monday finale in 5 seasons with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34 - since Fall 2011.

"The Bachelorette" (9:30-11:00 p.m. - 7.0 million and 1.9/5 in AD18-49):

Despite starting out against the final half-hour of NBC's "The Voice" at 9:30 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelorette" was up 17% from its year-ago premiere in Total Viewers (7.0 million vs. 6.0 million) and held even in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5). "The Bachelorette" won its 90-minute time period in Women 18-34 and stood as the No. 2 TV show of the night to "The Voice" in Adults 18-34 (tied w/Dancing) and Women 18-34.

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, 5/19/14.