ABC's "Bachelor Pad" Finale Draws 2nd-Largest Audience of the Season

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

Opposite the 2-hour season premiere of NBC's The Voice and season finales on Fox (Hell's Kitchen and Masterchef), the season finale of ABC's Bachelor Pad drew its 2nd-largest overall audience this season (behind only its season premiere on 7/23/12) and matched its 2nd-strongest young adult performance since its season premiere. ABC's Bachelor Pad saw its audience grow in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 from its first hour to its second hour.

At 10pm, an encore of ABC's Castle posted double-digit increases week to week in both Total Viewers (+27%) and Adults 18-49 (+33%).

Quick Take for Monday, September 10, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

Opposite NBC's "The Voice" Premiere and Fox's Finales, ABC's "Bachelor Pad" Season Finale Draws its 2nd-Largest Overall Audience of the Season

ABC's "Castle" Encore Posts Double-Digit Increases Week to Week

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

Opposite the 2-hour season premiere of NBC's "The Voice" and season finales on Fox ("Hell's Kitchen" and "Masterchef"), the season finale and ABC's "Bachelor Pad" drew its 2nd-largest overall audience this season (4.5 million � behind only its season premiere on 7/23/12) and matched its 2nd-strongest young adult performance (1.3/3) since its season premiere.

· ABC's "Bachelor Pad" saw its audience grow in both Total Viewers (4.4 million to 4.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 to 1.4/3) from its first hour to its second hour.

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

At 10:00 p.m., an encore of ABC's "Castle" posted double-digit increases week to week in both Total Viewers (+27% - 4.2 million vs. 3.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (+33% - 0.8/2 vs. 0.6/2).

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 45% currently, from 42% 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), 9/10/12.