Quick Take for Monday, March 19, 2007 (Based on Fast Affiliate Ratings)

With the Fourth Season Opener of "Dancing with the Stars," ABC Leads Monday Night by Wide Margins in Viewers and Young Adults

Monday's No. 1 TV Show, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Defeats NBC's "Deal Or No Deal" from 8-10pm by 7.6 Million Viewers and by 50% in Adults 18-49

"DWTS" Marks the Series' Strongest Start Ever in Viewers and Young Adults

"Dancing with the Stars" Generates ABC's Largest Audience in the Time Period with Regular Entertainment Programming in Over 15 Years; Best in 8 Years in Adults 18-49

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

With the fourth season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" on the night, ABC stood as the No. 1 TV network on Monday in viewers and young adults. The Network outpaced its nearest competition during prime by 5.2 million viewers (16.9 million vs. 11.7 million) and by 30% in Adults 18-49 (5.2/13 vs. 4.0/10).

* ABC's broad appealing "Dancing with the Stars" qualified as Monday's No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers, across the adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54) and among Kids 2-11.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

Despite facing stiff competition in its fourth season premiere, including NBC's "Deal or No Deal," CBS' original comedies and Fox's first-run dramas ("Prison Break"/"24"), ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" soared to the top of its time period. "Dancing with the Stars" outdrew its nearest competition (NBC's 2-hour "Deal or No Deal") by 7.6 million viewers (21.7 million vs. 14.1 million) and by 50% in Adults 18-49 (6.3/16 vs. 4.2/11). The ABC unscripted series built steadily throughout its broadcast, growing by 3.6 million viewers (19.6 million to 23.2 million) and by 25% in Adults 18-49 (5.5/16 to 6.9/16) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour.

* Delivering its best-ever season premiere results, "DWTS" was up from its third season opener last September by 1.5 million viewers and by 11% in Adults 18-49 (20.2 million & 5.7/15 on 9/12/06). The series topped last year's January premiere by 4.2 million viewers and by 31% in Adults 18-49 (17.5 million & 4.8/12 in Adults 18-49 on 1/5/06).

* In its premiere telecast, "Dancing with the Stars" generated ABC's largest audience in the time period with regularly scheduled entertainment programming in more than 15 years - since 1/20/92. It was the Net's top Adult 18-49 number with regular entertainment programming in the time slot in over 8 years - since 2/22/99.

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate Ratings, Live+SD), 3/19/07.