Quick Take for Monday, November 17, 2008 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Posting Increases for the 2nd Straight Week and Drawing its Largest Audience in 6 Weeks, ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net for the 8th Time in 9 Weeks

"Dancing with the Stars" Is Monday's Most-Watched TV Program for the 9th Consecutive Telecast and Logs it Biggest Audience Since its Season Premiere

"Samantha Who?" Beats CBS' "Worst Week" in Total Viewers and Wins its Half-hour Among Key Women for the 5th Time in 6 Telecasts

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

Standing as the night's most-watched network for the 8th time in the last 9 weeks, ABC's Monday lineup was up over the previous week in Total Viewers (14.5 million vs. 14.1 million), posting week-to-week increases for the 2nd week in a row. In fact, the Net registered its largest audience on the night in 6 weeks - since 10/06/08. In addition, ABC ranked No. 1 on the night Women 18-49 (4.7/11 - tied) and Women 25-54 (5.9/13).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:30 p.m.)

Monday's most-watched program in all 9 of its telecasts so far this season, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" saw gains over the previous week for the 2nd week running in both Total Viewers (19.7 million vs. 18.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.3/10 vs. 4.2/10). In fact, "DWTS," featuring the semifinal round of the dance competition, drew its largest audience since its season premiere and highest young adult rating in 6 weeks - since 9/22/08 and 10/6/08, respectively. In addition to being the night's most-watched telecast, "DWTS" ranked as Monday's No. 1 program across each of the key Women demographics: Women 18-34 (3.9/10), Women 18-49 (6.1/14) and Women 25-54 (7.7/17).

"Samantha Who?" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

Television's second-most watched sitcom of the season (behind CBS' "Two and a Half Men"), ABC's "Samantha Who?" beat its comedy competition in the time slot, CBS' "Worst Week," in Total Viewers (11.1 million vs. 10.4 million), outdrawing the CBS sitcom for the 4th time in 5 telecasts. Furthermore, the ABC sitcom topped "Worst Week" across each of the key women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) for the 5th straight head-to-head airing.

* "Samantha Who?" won its time period among Women 18-49 (4.3/10) and Women 25-54 (5.3/11) for the 5th time in its 6 telecasts this season.

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

ABC's "Boston Legal" beat its NBC drama competition in the hour, "My Own Worst Enemy," in both Total Viewers (8.4 million vs. 4.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 1.9/5).

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 28% currently, from 21% 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), 11/17/08.