ABC's Dancing Opens as Monday's Top Show and Builds on its Fall Premiere in Viewers

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 12.4 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49): With the Season 20 premiere of Dancing with the Stars and the return of Castle, ABC was the most-watched TV network on Monday (12.4 million) and took second place in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6). The Net marked its most-watched Monday since November - since 11/24/14.

· ABC's Dancing with the Stars was Monday's most-watched TV show (14.0 million) and ranked #2 for the night in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), behind only The Voice. Castle was Monday's #1 scripted show (9.1 million).

Dancing with the Stars (8-10pm - 14.0 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49): From 8-10pm, ABC's 20th season premiere of Dancing with the Stars outdrew NBC's The Voice to lead the 2-hour slot by 1.8 million viewers (14.0 million vs. 12.2 million) and earned second with young adults (2.0/7). Against the Dancing premiere, The Voice fell to a season low. DWTS was up 3% in viewers over last fall's opener (14.0 million vs.13.6 million on 9/15/14).

Castle (10-11pm - 9.1 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49): During the 10pm hour on its first airing in 3 weeks (since 2/23/15), ABC's Castle returned as the most-watched show (9.1 million) and ranked #1 in Adults 18-49 for its 3rd straight telecast (1.5/5-tie) Building on its most recent airing by 1.5 million viewers (9.1 million vs. 7.6 million), Castle drew its biggest audience in nearly 5 months - since 11/24/14.

Quick Take for Monday, March 16, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Leading All 6 Half-Hours, ABC Wins in Total Viewers With Most-Watched Monday since November

"Dancing with the Stars" Stands as Monday's Most-Watched Show, While "Castle" Ranks as the Night's Top Scripted Telecast

"DWTS" Beats NBC's "The Voice" by 1.8 Million Viewers in Time Slot

"Castle" Leads 10pm Hour with its Biggest Audience in Nearly 4 Months And Ranks No. 1 in Adults 18-49 for its 3rd Straight Telecast

Monday Night (3/16/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"Dancing with the Stars": Live + 3 = 16.1 million/2.3 rating and Live + 7 = 16.6 million/2.4 rating

"Castle": Live + 3 = 13.5 million/2.2 rating and Live + 7 = 14.7 million/2.4 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 12.4 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

With the Season 20 premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" and the return of "Castle," ABC was the most-watched TV network on Monday (12.4 million) and took second place in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6). Winning all 6 half-hours, the Net marked its most-watched Monday since November - since 11/24/14.

· ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was Monday's most-watched TV show (14.0 million) and ranked No. 2 for the night in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), behind only "The Voice." "Castle" was Monday's No. 1 scripted show (9.1 million).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 14.0 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's 20th season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" outdrew NBC's "The Voice" to lead the 2-hour slot by 1.8 million viewers (14.0 million vs. 12.2 million) and earned second with young adults (2.0/7). Against the "Dancing" premiere, "The Voice" fell to a season low. "DWTS" was up 3% in viewers over last fall's opener (14.0 million vs.13.6 million on 9/15/14).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.1 million and 1.5/5 in AD18-49):

During the 10:00 p.m. hour on its first airing in 3 weeks (since 2/23/15), ABC's "Castle" returned as the most-watched show (9.1 million) and ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 for its 3rd straight telecast (1.5/5-tie). Building on its most recent airing by 1.5 million viewers (9.1 million vs. 7.6 million), "Castle" drew its biggest audience in nearly 4 months - since 11/24/14.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 49% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 3/16/15.