ABC's "The Bachelor" Finale Dominates Monday Night

Some early info on ABC's Monday finale of The Bachelor, ahead of the regular press release.

With the season finale of The Bachelor and The Bachelor: After the Final Rose special, ABC posted a definitive Monday victory, beating runner-up Fox's original line-up (House/The Chicago Code) by 5.0 million viewers (13.8 million vs. 8.8 million) and by 67% in Adults 18-49 (4.5/12 vs. 2.7/8). In fact, ABC won all 6 half-hours on Monday night in viewers and young adults.

· Hitting a season high in Adults 18-49, ABC posted its top-rated Monday in close to 1 year - since 3/29/10.

ABC's 15th season finale of The Bachelor turned in a time-period dominant 13.8 million viewers and a 4.5 rating, 12 share in Adults 18-49, putting the Network into first place in the 2-hour time period for the 4th straight week. In addition, ABC earned first place the 2-hour time slot among Adults 18-34 for the 7th consecutive week.

· The Bachelor built its audience during each half-hour from 8:00-10:00 p.m., jumping by 3.4 million viewers (12.3 million to 15.7 million) and by 33% Adults 18-49 (3.9/12 to 5.2/14) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour, as Brad Womack proposed to Emily Maynard.

· The finale produced ABC's biggest audience in the time period since November and its top Adult 18-49 number since September - since 11/22/10 and 9/27/10, respectively.

· Surging week to week by 3.8 million viewers and by 45% in young adults (10.0 million & 3.1/9 in Adults 18-49 on 3/7/11), The Bachelor marked a season-high performance. In addition, The Bachelor generated its 3rd-most-watched finale in the show's last 11 seasons - since Fall 2003 on 11/19/03.

ABC's The Bachelor: After the Final Rose towered over the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (13.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.7/12), finishing well ahead of NBC's original Harry's Law (10.0 million and 1.7/5) and CBS' encore Hawaii Five-0 (7.3 million & 1.9/5). In fact among Adults 18-49, The Bachelor special beat the combined delivery of CBS and NBC by 31% (4.7/12 vs. 3.6/10). Building on its lead-in, The Bachelor: After the Final Rose stood as Monday's #1 TV program in Adults 18-49.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, the special generated ABC's top numbers in the time period in nearly 1 year - since 3/29/10 and 3/1/10, respectively.

· In viewers and young adults, The Bachelor: After the Final Rose posted the special's 3rd-highest numbers ever.

Quick Take for Monday, March 14, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

Hitting a Monday Season High in Young Adults, ABC is the Evening's No. 1 Net in Viewers and Adults 18-49

Season Finale of ABC's "The Bachelor" Dominates its 2-Hour Time Period, Taking the Net to the Top Spot for the 4th Consecutive Week

The 15th Season Finale of "The Bachelor" Attracts ABC's Largest Audience in the Time Period Since November and Top Adult 18-49 Number Since September

Standing as Monday's No. 1 Show in Adults 18-49, ABC's "The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" Dominates in Young Adults at 10pm, Beating CBS and NBC Combined

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

With the season finale of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" special, ABC posted a definitive Monday victory, beating runner-up Fox's original lineup ("House"/"The Chicago Code") by 5.0 million viewers (13.8 million vs. 8.8 million) and by 67% in Adults 18-49 (4.5/12 vs. 2.7/8). In fact, ABC won all 6 half-hours on Monday night in viewers and young adults.

· Hitting a season high in Adults 18-49, ABC posted its top-rated Monday in close to 1 year - since 3/29/10.

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's 15th season finale of "The Bachelor" turned in a time-period dominant 13.8 million viewers and a 4.5 rating, 12 share in Adults 18-49, putting the Network into first place in the 2-hour time period for the 4th straight week. In addition, ABC earned first place the 2-hour time slot among Adults 18-34 for the 7th consecutive week.

· "The Bachelor" built its audience during each half-hour from 8:00-10:00 p.m., jumping by 3.4 million viewers (12.3 million to 15.7 million) and by 33% Adults 18-49 (3.9/12 to 5.2/14) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour, as Brad Womack proposed to Emily Maynard.

· The finale produced ABC's biggest audience in the time period since November and its top Adult 18-49 number since September - since 11/22/10 and 9/27/10, respectively.

· Surging week to week by 3.8 million viewers and by 45% in young adults (10.0 million & 3.1/9 in Adults 18-49 on 3/7/11), "The Bachelor" marked a season-high performance. In addition, "The Bachelor" generated its 3rd-most-watched finale in the show's last 11 seasons - since Fall 2003 on 11/19/03.

"The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" towered over the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (13.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.7/12), finishing well ahead of NBC's original "Harry's Law" (10.0 million and 1.7/5) and CBS' encore "Hawaii Five-0" (7.3 million & 1.9/5). In fact among Adults 18-49, "The Bachelor" special beat the combined young adult delivery of CBS and NBC by 31% (4.7/12 vs. 3.6/10). Building on its lead-in, "The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" stood as Monday's No. 1 TV program in Adults 18-49.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, the special generated ABC's top numbers in the time period in nearly 1 year - since 3/29/10 and 3/1/10, respectively.

· In viewers and young adults, "The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" posted the special's 3rd-highest numbers ever.

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 40% currently, from 36% at the same point in 2010. 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: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 3/14/11.