Quick Take for Monday, September 22, 2008 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is the No. 1 Net on the Opening Night of the 08-09 TV Season, Growing Year to Year and Outdrawing Second-Place CBS by Over 4 Million Viewers

ABC Marks its Most-Watched Season Premiere Monday in 9 Years, Representing the Top Season Opening Monday for Any Net Since 2002

Broadcast TV Grows its Overall Audience by 1 Million Viewers Year to Year

Monday's No. 1 TV Show, ABC's Seventh-Season Premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" Dominates its 2-Hour Time Period Among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

"DWTS" Attracts ABC's Largest Audience in the Time Slot in 1-1/2 Years And Generates its Highest Number Among Adults 18-49 in Close to a Year

In its Season Opener, "Boston Legal" Marks its Best Numbers Since April

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

With the season premieres of "Dancing with the Stars" and "Boston Legal" on the night, ABC stood as the most-watched TV network on the opening Monday of the 2008-09 TV Season, outdrawing its nearest competition by over 4 million viewers (17.2 million vs. 13.1 million - CBS). ABC also ranked No. 1 on Monday night across each of the key women demographics: W18-34 (4.2/11), W18-49 (6.0/14) and W25-54 (7.5/16).

� Growing from opening Monday of last season by 2.0 million viewers (17.2 million vs. 15.2 million on 9/24/07), ABC posted its biggest season premiere audience on the night in 9 years and the most-watched for any network since 2002 � since 9/20/99 and 9/23/02 (CBS), respectively. In fact it was a good start to the season for broadcast television overall, as the 5 networks combined (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW) attracted 1.0 million more viewers this year than last (48.0 million vs. 47.0 million), despite a sharp increase in DVR penetration (from 19% a year ago up to more than 27% currently).

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

The most-watched TV show on Monday night, ABC's seventh-season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" dominated in its 2-hour time period, beating second-place CBS by 9.8 million viewers (21.1 million vs. 11.3 million) and by 26% in Adults 18-49 (5.3/13 vs. 4.2/10). "DWTS" was also Monday's No. 1 show in the key Adults 18-49 (tied w/CBS' "Two and a Half Men" from 9:00-9:30 p.m.), besting high-profile competition including the season opener of CBS' "C.S.I.: Miami" (5.1/12) and NBC's 2-hour return of "Heroes" (4.9/12).

� "Dancing with the Stars" generated ABC's largest audience in the time period in 1-1/2 years and its highest Adult 18-49 rating since last November � since 3/19/07 and 11/19/07, respectively.

"Boston Legal" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

In its season premiere, ABC's "Boston Legal" turned in its best viewer (9.4 million) and young adult number (2.5/6) since April � since 4/22/08

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 27% currently, from 19% at the same point in 2007. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 9/22/08.