ABC's DWTS is Up - Castle Finale is Monday's Most-Watched Scripted Show at an 8-Week High

Monday Night (05/12/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

DWTS: L3 = 15.6 mil/2.4 rtg, L7 = 16.1 mil/2.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.8 rtg

Castle: L3 = 13.3 mil/2.1 rtg, L7 = 14.4 mil/2.3 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.8 rtg

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 11.8 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49): For the 5th week running, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV network (11.8 million). In addition, the Net nearly caught NBC for #1 in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 vs. 2.0/6), while beating CBS by 36% (1.4/5) and Fox by 90% (1.0/3). ABC earned its most-watched Monday in 6 weeks and equaled a 9-week high with young adults - since 3/30/15 and 3/9/15, respectively.

· ABC's Dancing was the night's most-watched TV show overall (13.3 million), ranking as Monday's #1 series for the 9th week running. DWTS was the evening's #2 show in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7), marking its closest finish this season to NBC's The Voice. In addition, Dancing tied The Voice as the Monday's top show in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. On its season finale, ABC's Castle was Monday's most-watched scripted TV show for the 3rd week in a row (8.7 million) and the night's #1 drama in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4).

Dancing with the Stars (8-10pm - 13.3 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49): From 8-10pm, ABC's semi-finals of Dancing with the Stars outdrew NBC's The Voice by a best-of-season 3.5 million viewers (13.3 million vs. 9.8 million) for the time-slot win and ran a strong second in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7) with double-digit advantages over CBS (+40% - 1.5/5) and triple-digits over Fox's dramas (+110% - 1.0/3 for The Following). In fact, Dancing marked its closest Adult 18-49 finish this season with The Voice, coming within 3-tenths of a rating point (2.1/7 vs. 2.4/8). Dancing was up week to week in Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 18-49 (+11%), with its largest audience in 3 weeks and tying a 4-week high in young adults.

Castle (10-11pm - 8.7 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49): During the 10pm hour, on its season finale, ABC's Castle was the most-watched TV show (8.7 million) for the 3rd week in a row and also won its slot Adults 18-49 (1.4/4). Castle was up week to week in Total Viewers (+5%) and steady in Adults 18-49, drawing its biggest audience in 8 weeks - since 3/16/15.

Quick Take for Monday, May 11, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net for 5th Week in a Row and 8 of the Last 9

"Dancing with the Stars" is the Night's No. 1 TV Series in Total Viewers,

While "Castle" Stands as Monday's Most-Watched Scripted Show

"Castle" Season Finale Wins its 10pm Time Slot in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Finishing as the Night's No. 1 Drama among Young Adults

Monday Night (05/11/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"DWTS:" L3 = 15.6 mil/2.4 rtg, L7 = 16.1 mil/2.5 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.8 rtg

"Castle:" L3 = 13.3 mil/2.1 rtg, L7 = 14.4 mil/2.3 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.8 rtg

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 11.8 million and 1.9/6 in AD18-49):

For the 5th week running, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV network (11.8 million). In addition, the Net nearly caught NBC for No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 vs. 2.0/6), while beating CBS by 36% (1.4/5) and Fox by 90% (1.0/3). ABC earned its most-watched Monday in 6 weeks and equaled a 9-week high with young adults - since 3/30/15 and 3/9/15, respectively.

· ABC's "Dancing" was the night's most-watched TV show overall (13.3 million), ranking as Monday's No. 1 series for the 9th week running. "DWTS" was the evening's No. 2 show in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7), marking its closest finish this season to NBC's "The Voice." In addition, "Dancing" tied "The Voice" as the Monday's top show in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. On its season finale, ABC's "Castle" was Monday's most-watched scripted TV show for the 3rd week in a row (8.7 million) and the night's No. 1 drama in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 13.3 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's semi-finals of "Dancing with the Stars" outdrew NBC's "The Voice" by a best-of-season 3.5 million viewers (13.3 million vs. 9.8 million) for the time-slot win and ran a strong second in Adults 18-49 (2.1/7), leading by double digits over CBS (+40% - 1.5/5) and triple digits over Fox (+110% - 1.0/3 for "The Following"). In fact, "Dancing" delivered its closest Adult 18-49 finish this season with "The Voice," coming within 3-tenths of a rating point (2.1/7 vs. 2.4/8). "Dancing" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 18-49 (+11%), with its largest audience in 3 weeks and tying a 4-week high in young adults.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.7 million and 1.4/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10:00 p.m. hour, on its season finale, ABC's "Castle" was the most-watched TV show (8.7 million) for the 3rd week in a row and also won its slot Adults 18-49 (1.4/4). "Castle" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+5%) and steady in Adults 18-49, drawing its biggest audience in 8 weeks - since 3/16/15.

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, 5/11/15.