ABC's The Bachelor Holds its Season High Against The Voice Premiere - The Voice Drops Year to Year

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 7.2 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49): Opposite NBC's premiere of The Voice and the return of Blindspot, ABC ran a strong #2 on Monday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), leading CBS by 43% (1.4/4) and Fox by 43% (1.4/4). Despite the increased competition from NBC week to week, ABC tied a Monday season high. The Net won the night with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Outdelivering NBC's The Voice premiere by 20% and 35%, respectively, ABC's The Bachelor was Monday's #1 TV series for the 9th week in a row in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

The Bachelor (8-10pm - 8.1 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49): Opposite NBC's The Voice premiere from 8-10pm, ABC's The Bachelor held steady with the prior week's season high in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8). With The Bachelor closing the gap, The Voice opener took a hit year to year dropping by -6% in viewers (13.2 million vs. 14.0 million) and by -17% in young adults (3.4/11 vs. 4.1/12) from the year-ago premiere (on 2/23/15).

· Among Adults 18-49 in Homes with $100K+ Annual Income (4.95 rating), ABC's The Bachelor ranks among the Top 5 broadcast entertainment series this season (behind only The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family and The X-Files, respectively) and #1 among unscripted series.

Castle (10-11pm - 5.3 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49): At 10pm, after advancing 22% the prior week, ABC's Castle held even against NBC's Blindspot premiere with Adults 18-49 (1.1/4). The ABC drama ranked #2 in the hour with Adults 18-34 and all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

Quick Take for Monday, February 29, 2016 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Matches a Season High on Monday in Adults 18-49, Opposite Increased Competition

"The Bachelor" Equals a Season Best in Adults 18-49, Despite Airing Against NBC's "The Voice" Spring Premiere

"The Bachelor" Ranks as Monday's No. 1 Program, Outdelivering "The Voice" in Adults 18-34 (+20%) and Women 18-34 (+35%)

At 10 p.m., "Castle" Holds Steady Week-to-Week in Adults 18-49, Opposite Return of NBC's "Blindspot"

Monday Night (2/29/16) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"The Bachelor": L3 = 10.5 million/3.2 rating and L7 = 11.2 million/3.4 rating

"Castle": L3 = 8.5 million/1.7 rating, L7 = 9.4 million/1.9 rating, and MP +35 = 2.3 rating

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.2 million and 2.0/7 in AD18-49):

Opposite NBC's premiere of "The Voice" and the return of "Blindspot," ABC ran a strong No. 2 on Monday in Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), leading CBS by 43% (1.4/4) and Fox by 43% (1.4/4). Despite the increased competition from NBC week to week, ABC tied a Monday season high. The Net won the night with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· Outdelivering NBC's "The Voice" premiere by 20% and 35%, respectively, ABC's "The Bachelor" was Monday's No. 1 TV series for the 9th week in a row in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.1 million and 2.5/8 in AD18-49):

Against NBC's "The Voice" premiere from 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelor" held steady with the prior week's season high in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8). With "The Bachelor" closing the gap, "The Voice" opener took a hit year to year, dropping by -6% in viewers (13.2 million vs. 14.0 million) and by -17% in young adults (3.4/11 vs. 4.1/12) from the year-ago premiere (on 2/23/15).

· Among Adults 18-49 in Homes with $100K+ Annual Income (4.95 rating), ABC's "The Bachelor" ranks among the Top 5 broadcast entertainment series this season (behind only "The Big Bang Theory," "Modern Family" and "The X-Files," respectively) and No. 1 among unscripted series.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.3 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49):

At 10:00 p.m. after advancing 22% the prior week, ABC's "Castle" held even against NBC's "Blindspot" premiere with Adults 18-49 (1.1/4). The ABC drama ranked No. 2 in the hour with Adults 18-34 and all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

Projections Rationale:

Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2015-16 season for premiere telecast or an average for originals (excluding the premiere).

Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).

New Series: Based on similar series.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 48% 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, 2/29/16.