ABC is Monday's Top Net on Each of the Final 10 Weeks of the 2011-12 Season

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

ABC capped out the final Monday of the season in winning fashion, standing as the night's most-watched TV network on each of the final 10 weeks of 2011-12, outdrawing Fox with the series finale of House by 3.2 million viewers, NBC with America's Got Talent and the season premiere of American Ninja Warrior by 3.4 million viewers and CBS' encores by 4.9 million. The Net nearly tied NBC for first place on the night in Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share), while beating Fox by 4%. ABC once again ran #1 on Monday across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's 1-hour Monday finale of Dancing with the Stars stood as the evening's most-watched television program and topped its slot for the 10th straight week, outdrawing NBC's America's Got Talent in head-to-head competition by 7.0 million viewers. In addition, the broad-appealing ABC dance competition won its slot with Adults 25-54 (#1 show of the night) and Women 18-49 (#1 show of the night), while making ABC the #1 broadcaster with Kids 2-11.

· DWTS built week to week in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%) to earn its best results in 1 month - since 4/23/12. In addition, the show hit a 6-week high with Teens 12-17 and a 8-week high with Kids 2-11 - since 4/9/12 and 3/26/12, respectively.

From 9-11pm, ABC's The Bachelorette ranked #1 in its 2-hour time period with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, attracting 1.6 million more viewers than NBC's season opener of American Ninja Warrior in the slot. In addition, the ABC unscripted series finished as the #1 series in its time slot for the 2nd week in a row in a row with Adults 18-34 and among key Women (W18-34/W18-49). In fact, The Bachelorette stood as Monday's #1 TV show among its core audience of Women 18-34

· For the 2nd straight week, The Bachelorette built on its Dancing lead in with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· The Bachelorette was up over its 2nd episode last season in both viewers (+7%) and young adults (+9%).

Quick Take for Monday, May 21, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

ABC is the Most-Watched Net on Monday, Ranking No. 1 In Total Viewers in the Final 10 Weeks of the 2011-12 Season

Monday's Most-Watched TV Program, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Season Finale Outdraws NBC's "America's Got Talent" at 8pm by 7.0 Million Viewers

"The Bachelorette" Leads its Time Period in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Standing as Monday's No. 1 Program in its Core Women 18-34 Audience

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

ABC (10.6 million) capped out the final Monday of the season in winning fashion, standing as the night's most-watched TV network on each of the final 10 weeks of 2011-12, outdrawing Fox with the series finale of "House" by 3.2 million viewers (7.4 million), NBC with "America's Got Talent" and the season premiere of "American Ninja Warrior" by 3.4 million viewers (7.2 million) and CBS' encores by 4.9 million viewers (5.7 million). The Net (2.5/7) nearly tied NBC (2.6/7) for first place on the night in Adults 18-49 (pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share), while beating Fox by 4% (2.4/7). ABC once again ran No. 1 on Monday across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

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

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's 1-hour Monday finale of "Dancing with the Stars" stood as the evening's most-watched television program and topped its slot for the 10th straight week, outdrawing NBC's "America's Got Talent" in head-to-head competition by 7.0 million viewers (16.5 million vs. 9.5 million). In addition, the broad-appealing ABC dance competition won its slot with Adults 25-54 (No. 1 show of the night) and Women 18-49 (No. 1 show of the night), while making ABC the No. 1 broadcaster with Kids 2-11.

· "DWTS" built week to week in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%) to earn its best results in 1 month - since 4/23/12. In addition, the show hit a 6-week high with Teens 12-17 and an 8-week high with Kids 2-11 - since 4/9/12 and 3/26/12, respectively.

"The Bachelorette" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

From 9:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelorette" ranked No. 1 in its 2-hour time period with Total Viewers (7.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.4/6), attracting 1.6 million more viewers than NBC's season opener of "American Ninja Warrior" (6.1 million) in the slot. In addition, the ABC unscripted show finished as the No. 1 series in its time slot for the 2nd week in a row in a row with Adults 18-34 (1.9/6) and among key Women (W18-34/W18-49). In fact, "The Bachelorette" stood as Monday's No. 1 TV show among its core audience of Women 18-34 (3.1/9).

· For the 2nd straight week, "The Bachelorette" built on its "Dancing" lead in with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· "The Bachelorette" was up over its 2nd episode last season (7.2 million and 2.2/6 on 5/30/11) in both viewers (+7%) and young adults (+9%).

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 44% currently, from 41% 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), 5/21/12.