ABC's "Dancing" and "Castle" Grow in Viewers and Young Adults

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

Featuring Dancing with the Stars and Castle, ABC once again qualified as Monday's most-watched TV network, topping CBS by a season-best 4.0 million viewers (HIMYM/2 Broke Girls/Two and a Half Men/Mike & Molly/Hawaii Five-0), Fox by 7.3 million viewers (Terra Nova/House) and NBC by 11.7 million viewers (The Sing Off/Prime Suspect). Among Adults 18-49, ABC beat out Fox's line up by 3% and NBC's line up by 131%. ABC stood as Monday's #1 net in Total Viewers for the 5th week in a row,

· ABC's grew week to week in viewers (+6%) and young adults (+11%), generating its largest audience on the night since season-premiere Monday (on 9/19/11).

Picking up audience throughout its telecast against CBS' Two and a Half Men-led comedy block, Dancing with the Stars made ABC the top draw overall in its time slot for the 5th straight week, while finishing #2 in Adults 18-49 with a 10% advantage over Fox's dramas and doubling NBC's The Sing Off (+100%). ABC's Dancing stood as Monday's most-watched TV show for the 2nd week in a row.

· Building its viewer count for the 2nd week in a row (+4%) and gaining week to week with Adults 18-49 (+7%), DWTS generated its most-watched telecast in 4 weeks - since its season opener.

For the 5th week running this season, ABC's Castle registered as the most-watched scripted show in Monday's 10 o'clock hour. In addition, ABC's Castle was the evening's most-watched drama telecast overall, pacing ahead of CBS' Hawaii Five-0 (+6%), Fox's House (+37%) and Fox's Terra Nova (+44%).

· Building week to week in Total Viewers (+13%) and Adults 18-49 (+24%), Castle marked its strongest results in 3 weeks - since 9/26/11.

· Castle rose over its year-ago telecast, increasing its overall audience year to year for the 4th time in 5 tries this season.

Quick Take for Monday, October 17, 2011 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Ranks as Monday's No. 1 Net in Total Viewers for the 5th Straight Week, Topping CBS by a Season-Best 4.0 Million Viewers

Hitting a Best-Since-Premiere Performance in Total Viewers, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Stands as Monday's Most-Watched Telecast for the 2nd Straight Week

ABC's "Castle" Stands as Monday's Most-Watched Scripted Series In the 10 o'Clock Hour for the 5th Week in a Row

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

Featuring "Dancing with the Stars" and "Castle," ABC once again qualified as Monday's most-watched TV network (15.5 million), topping CBS by a season-best 4.0 million viewers (11.5 million - "HIMYM"/"2 Broke Girls"/"Two and a Half Men"/"Mike & Molly"/"Hawaii Five-0"), Fox by 7.3 million viewers (8.2 million - "Terra Nova"/"House") and NBC by 11.7 million viewers (3.8 million - "The Sing Off"/"Prime Suspect"). Among Adults 18-49, ABC (3.0/8) beat out Fox's lineup by 3% (2.9/7) and NBC's by 131% (1.3/3). ABC stood as Monday's No. 1 net in Total Viewers for the 5th week in a row.

· ABC's grew week to week in viewers (+6% - 15.5 million vs. 14.6 million) and young adults (+11% - 3.0/8 vs. 2.7/7), generating its largest audience on the night since season-premiere Monday (on 9/19/11).

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

Picking up audience throughout its telecast against CBS' "Two and a Half Men"-led comedy block, "Dancing with the Stars" made ABC (17.5 million) the top draw overall in its time slot for the 5th straight week, while finishing No. 2 in Adults 18-49 (3.2/8) with a 10% advantage over Fox's dramas (2.9/7) and doubling NBC's "The Sing Off" (+100% - 1.6/4). ABC's "Dancing" stood as Monday's most-watched TV show for the 2nd week in a row.

Building its viewer count for the 2nd week in a row (+4%) and gaining week to week with Adults 18-49 (+7%), "DWTS" generated its most-watched telecast in 4 weeks - since its season opener

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

For the 5th week running this season, ABC's "Castle" registered as the most-watched scripted show in Monday's 10 o'clock hour. In addition, ABC's "Castle" (11.5 million) was the evening's most-watched drama telecast overall, pacing ahead of CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" (+6% - 10.9 million), Fox's "House" (+37% - 8.4 million) and Fox's "Terra Nova" (+44% - 8.0 million).

· Building week to week in Total Viewers (+13% - 11.5 million vs. 10.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (+24% - 2.6/7 vs. 2.1/5), "Castle" marked its strongest results in 3 weeks - since 9/26/11.

· "Castle" rose over its year-ago telecast, increasing its overall audience year to year for the 4th time in 5 tries this season.

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 42% currently, from 38% 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), 10/17/11.