ABC Towers Over the First Monday of May

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

With Dancing with the Stars and Castle, ABC towered over the first Monday of the May Sweep, more than doubling runner-up CBS in Total Viewers and leading by 63% in Adults 18-49. In fact the Net beat its rivals in all 6 half-hours of the night in viewers and young adults. ABC ran as Monday's most-watched TV net for the 8th week running and won the evening in Adults 18-49 for the 7th time in 8 weeks. In addition, it was ABC's 5th straight year to finish as the most-watched network on the opening Monday night of the May Sweep - starting in May 2007.

· Up for the 2nd straight week, ABC's Monday numbers jumped by double-digit percentages over the prior week in both Total Viewers (+15%) and Adults 18-49 (+18%).

· ABC was also up sharply from the same night last year, gaining nearly 3.0 million viewers and 18% with young adults.

ABC's Dancing with the Stars won each of its half-hours in viewers and young adults to earn first place in its time slot for the 7th week running. ABC's DWTS once again registered as Monday's #1 TV show in Total Viewers (7th week in a row) and Adults 18-49 (6th time in 7 weeks).

· DWTS rose over the same night last year by 7% in Total Viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49.

· On average, Season 12 of DWTS is up over the same point in Season 11 by 1.2 million viewers and by 6% in Adults 18-49. In fact DWTS is producing the franchise's most-watched season ever.

ABC's Castle won the 10 o'clock hour, beating CBS' original Hawaii Five-0 by its best-ever margins in Total Viewers (+2.8 million viewers) and Adults 18-49 (+21%). In fact on both measures, Castle was the #1 TV series in its time period for 5th time in its last 6 original telecasts. In addition, Castle more than doubled the numbers of NBC's original Law & Order: Los Angeles in viewers (+154%) and young adults (+107%). For its 5th consecutive original broadcast, ABC's Castle stood as Monday's most-watched scripted series.

· Versus the year-ago night, the ABC drama was up by 1.5 million viewers and 16% in Adults 18-49.

· On average ABC's Castle is enjoying its strongest season ever, building on its performance at the same point last year in both Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

Quick Take for Monday, May 2, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Wins First Monday of the May Sweep Viewers and Adults 18-49, Ranking As the Most-Watched Net on the Opening Monday for the 5th Straight Year

Standing as Monday's No. 1 Program in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "DWTS" Leads All 4 of its Half-hours and Posts Increases Over its Year-Ago Performance

Ranking No. 1 at 10pm for 5th Time in its Last 6 Originals, ABC's "Castle" Bests CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" by Best-Ever Margins in Viewers and Young Adults

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

With "Dancing with the Stars" and "Castle," ABC towered over the first Monday of the May Sweep, more than doubling runner-up CBS in Total Viewers (18.0 million vs. 7.8 million) and leading by 63% in Adults 18-49 (3.9/10 vs. 2.4/6). In fact the Net beat its rivals in all 6 half-hours of the night in viewers and young adults. ABC ran as Monday's most-watched TV net for the 8th week running and won the evening in Adults 18-49 for the 7th time in 8 weeks. In addition, it was ABC's 5th straight year to finish as the most-watched network on the opening Monday night of the May Sweep - starting in May 2007.

· Up for the 2nd straight week, ABC's Monday numbers jumped by double-digit percentages over the prior week in both Total Viewers (+15% - 18.0 million vs. 15.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+18% - 3.9/10 vs. 3.3/9).

· ABC was also up sharply from the same night last year, gaining nearly 3.0 million viewers and 18% with young adults (15.1 million and 3.3/9 on 5/3/10).

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

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" won each of its half-hours in viewers and young adults to earn first place in its time slot for the 7th week running. ABC's "DWTS" once again registered as Monday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers (20.9 million - 7th week in a row) and Adults 18-49 (4.4/12 - 6th time in 7 weeks).

· "DWTS" rose over the same night last year by 7% in Total Viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49 (19.6 million & 4.1/12 on 5/3/10).

· On average, Season 12 of "DWTS" is up over the same point in Season 11 by 1.2 million viewers (22.4 million vs. 21.2 million) and by 6% in Adults 18-49 (5.0/14 vs. 4.7/11). In fact "DWTS" is producing the franchise's most-watched season ever.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Castle" won the 10 o'clock hour, beating CBS' original "Hawaii Five-0" by its best-ever margins in Total Viewers (+2.8 million viewers - 12.2 million vs. 9.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+21% - 2.9/7 vs. 2.4/6). In fact on both measures, "Castle" was the No. 1 TV series in its time period for 5th time in its last 6 original telecasts. In addition, "Castle" more than doubled the numbers of NBC's original "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (4.8 million and 1.4/4) in viewers (+154%) and young adults (+107%). For its 5th consecutive original broadcast, ABC's "Castle" stood as Monday's most-watched scripted series.

· Versus the year-ago night, the ABC drama was up by 1.5 million viewers and 16% in Adults 18-49 (10.7 million and 2.5/7).

· On average, ABC's "Castle" is enjoying its strongest season ever, building on its performance at the same point last year in both Total Viewers (+6% - 11.1 million vs. 10.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4% - 2.9/8 vs. 2.8/7).

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), 5/2/11.