ABC's "The Bachelor" Hits Season Highs/"Castle" is Monday's Most-Watched TV Show

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

With increasing returns for The Bachelor and Castle, ABC's registered as the #1 network on Monday night with Total Viewers and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Marking its 2nd straight week of gains, the Network scored its top-rated Monday in over 2 months in Adults 18-49 and equaled its highest Adults 18-34 number since season-premiere Monday in September - since 11/21/11 and 9/19/11, respectively.

Growing from its first hour to its second hour, ABC's The Bachelor earned second place in its 2-hour time period with Adults 18-49, while ranking #1 with Adults 18-34 and all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In fact, The Bachelor stood as Monday's #1 TV show across the Women demos.

· Up for the 2nd week running, The Bachelor achieved season-highs in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

· In viewers and young adults, The Bachelor generated ABC's best numbers in the time period since November - since 11/21/11 and 11/14/11, respectively.

Monday's most-watched TV show overall, ABC's Castle ranked #1 during the 10 o'clock hour with Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.

· ABC's Castle surged over its year-ago broadcast by 1.0 million viewers.

· The ABC drama produced its biggest audience in 9 weeks - since 11/21/11.

Quick Take for Monday, January 23, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is the No. 1 Net on Monday in Total Viewers and Across All Key Women

ABC Scores its Top Adults 18-49 Performance on the Night Since November and Best Adults 18-34 Number Since September

ABC's "The Bachelor" Hits Season Highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, And Stands as Monday's No. 1 Program in All Key Women Demos

As Monday's Most-Watched TV Show, ABC's "Castle" Ranks No. 1 at 10pm in Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

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

With increasing returns for "The Bachelor" and "Castle," ABC's registered as the No. 1 network on Monday night with Total Viewers (8.8 million-tied) and across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· Marking its 2nd straight week of gains, the Network scored its top-rated Monday in over 2 months in Adults 18-49 (2.5/6) and equaled its highest Adults 18-34 number (2.0/6) since season-premiere Monday in September - since 11/21/11 and 9/19/11, respectively.

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

Growing from its first hour to its second hour, ABC's "The Bachelor" earned second place in its 2-hour time period with Adults 18-49, while ranking No. 1 with Adults 18-34 (2.3/6-tied) and all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). In fact, "The Bachelor" stood as Monday's No. 1 TV show across the Women demos.

· Up for the 2nd week running, "The Bachelor" achieved season-highs in both Total Viewers (8.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/7).

· In viewers and young adults, "The Bachelor" generated ABC's best numbers in the time period since November - since 11/21/11 and 11/14/11, respectively.

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

Monday's most-watched TV show overall, ABC's "Castle" ranked No. 1 during the 10 o'clock hour with Total Viewers (10.1 million), Adults 18-49 (2.1/5) and Adults 25-54 (3.0/7).

· ABC's "Castle" surged over its year-ago broadcast by 1.0 million viewers (9.1 million on 1/24/11).

· The ABC drama produced its biggest audience in 9 weeks - since 11/21/11.

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 43% currently, from 39% at the same point in 2011. 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), 1/23/12.