ABC Hits Monday Season Highs - "Castle" Outdraws "State of Affairs" Debut

Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Results:

Please Note: ABC's Monday lineup was preempted in Nashville and Pittsburgh for local NFL coverage (1.9% U.S.).

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 13.1 million and 2.3/6 in AD18-49): ABC was Monday's most-watched broadcaster for the 4th consecutive week (13.1 million) and ranked #2 in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6). Also for the 4th week in a row, ABC's Dancing was Monday's most-watched entertainment program (14.6 million). It was the #2 show of the night with young adults, behind only The Voice. In viewers and young adults, the Net earned new season highs on the night.

Dancing With the Stars (8-10pm - 14.6 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49): Head to head from 8-10pm, ABC's Dancing with the Stars topped NBC's The Voice for the 4th consecutive week (by a best-yet 3.8 million - 14.6 million vs. 10.8 million). Building 18% from its first to second hour, Dancing outdelivered Fox's Sleepy Hollow in Adults 18-49 from 9-10pm for the 9th week in a row (by a best-ever +73% - 2.6/7 vs. 1.5/4).

· DWTS was up for the 4th straight week in Total Viewers (14.6 million vs. 13.3 million) and gained in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 2.0/6) to deliver its most-watched telecast this season and tie a season best with young adults. In addition, Dancing grew over its year-ago telecast (13.8 million and 2.0/5 on 11/18/13) in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+20%).

Castle (10-11pm - 9.9 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49): In the 10pm hour, ABC's Castle outdrew NBC's high-profile State of Affairs debut to rank as the most-watched series in its slot (9.9 million vs. 8.6 million), while continuing to outperform CBS' NCIS: LA in both Total Viewers (9.9 million vs. 8.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 1.7/5).

· The ABC drama was up week to week in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+25%) to mark best-since-premiere results - since 9/29/14.

Quick Take for Monday, November 17, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Broadcaster for the 4th Week in a Row

"Dancing" Outdelivers NBC's "The Voice" by a Season-Best 3.8 Million Viewers, Standing as Monday's Most-Watched Telecast

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Turns in its Most-Watched Telecast of the Season, While Matching a Season Best in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Castle" Ranks as the Most-Watched Series at 10pm; Outdraws NBC's High Profile Debut of "State of Affairs"

Please Note: ABC's Monday lineup was preempted in Nashville and Pittsburgh for local NFL coverage (1.9% U.S.).

National Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 13.1 million and 2.3/6 in AD18-49):

ABC was Monday's most-watched broadcaster for the 4th consecutive week (13.1 million) and ranked No. 2 in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6). Also, for the 4th week in a row, ABC's "Dancing" was Monday's most-watched entertainment program (14.6 million). It was the No. 2 show of the night with young adults, behind only "The Voice." In viewers and young adults, the Net earned new season highs on the night.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 14.6 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):

Head to head from 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" topped NBC's "The Voice" for the 4th consecutive week (by a best-yet 3.8 million - 14.6 million vs. 10.8 million). Building 18% from its first to second hour, "Dancing" outdelivered Fox's "Sleepy Hollow" in Adults 18-49 from 9:00-10:00 p.m. for the 9th week in a row (by a best-ever +73% - 2.6/7 vs. 1.5/4).

· "DWTS" was up for the 4th straight week in Total Viewers (14.6 million vs. 13.3 million) and gained in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 vs. 2.0/6) to deliver its most-watched telecast this season and tie a season best with young adults. In addition, "Dancing" grew over its year-ago telecast (13.8 million and 2.0/5 on 11/18/13) in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+20%).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.9 million and 2.0/6 in AD18-49):

In the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Castle" outdrew NBC's high-profile "State of Affairs" debut to rank as the most-watched series in its slot (9.9 million vs. 8.6 million), while continuing to outperform CBS' "NCIS: LA" in both Total Viewers (9.9 million vs. 8.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 1.7/5).

· The ABC drama was up week to week in viewers (+4%) and young adults (+25%) to mark best-since-premiere results - since 9/29/14.

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 48% 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, 11/17/14.