ABC Wins 2nd Straight Monday in Viewers - DWTS Scores Best Premiere Retention in 8 Seasons

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 11.9 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): For the 2nd week in a row, ABC was the most-watched TV network on Monday (11.9 million) and finished #2 in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6-tie). ABC's Dancing with the Stars Monday's most-watched TV show (13.7 million) and the #2 show in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7-tie) for the 2nd week running.

Dancing with the Stars (8-10pm - 13.7 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49): From 8-10pm, ABC's Dancing with the Stars topped NBC's The Voice win the 2-hour slot by 1.8 million viewers (13.7 million vs. 11.9 million) and took 2nd place with young adults (2.0/7). Against the competition from Dancing, The Voice fell to another season low. Holding steady with its week-ago season premiere in Total Viewers (96%) and Adults 18-49 (95%), Dancing delivered the series' best Week 1 to Week 2 retention in 8 seasons - since Spring 2011. In fact the show retained 100% of its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), which went up 1-tenth in the National numbers.

Castle (10-11pm - 8.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49): During the 10pm hour, ABC's Castle outdrew NBC's Night Shift by 2.4 million viewers (8.2 million vs. 5.8 million) and tied for #1 in the hour with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W25-54). Castle was steady with its week-ago Adult 18-49 delivery (1.4/5 vs. 1.5/5).

Quick Take for Monday, March 23, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

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

"Dancing with the Stars" Stands as Monday's No. 1 TV Show in Total Viewers, Leading NBC's "The Voice" by 1.8 Million Viewers

"Dancing with the Stars" Delivers Best Week 1 to Week 2 Retention in 8 Seasons

"Castle" Ranks No. 1 at 10pm in Adults 18-34 and Key Women

Monday Night (3/23/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"Dancing with the Stars": Live + 3 = 15.8 million/2.3 rating and Live + 7 = 16.2 million/2.4 rating

"Castle": Live + 3 = 12.2 million/2.1 rating and Live + 7 = 13.3 million/2.2 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 11.9 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49):

For the 2nd week in a row, ABC was the most-watched TV network on Monday (11.9 million) and finished No. 2 in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6-tie). ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was Monday's most-watched TV show (13.7 million) and the No. 2 show in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7-tie) for the 2nd week running.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 13.7 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" topped NBC's "The Voice" to win the 2-hour slot by 1.8 million viewers (13.7 million vs. 11.9 million) and took 2nd place with young adults (2.0/7). Against the competition from "Dancing," "The Voice" fell to another season low. Holding steady with its week-ago season premiere in Total Viewers (96%) and Adults 18-49 (95%), "Dancing" delivered the series' best Week 1 to Week 2 retention in 8 seasons - since Spring 2011. In fact the show retained 100% of its week-ago Fast Affiliate rating in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), which went up 1-tenth in the National numbers.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.2 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's "Castle" outdrew NBC's "Night Shift" by 2.4 million viewers (8.2 million vs. 5.8 million) and was No. 1 in the hour with Adults 18-34 (tie) and key Women (W18-34/W25-54). "Castle" was steady with its week-ago Adult 18-49 delivery (1.4/5 vs. 1.5/5).

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, 3/23/15.