"The Bachelor" Hits Season Highs/"Castle" Posts Top Number Since October

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

With The Bachelor and Castle on the rise, ABC delivered its top rated Monday among Adults 18-49 since November 19, 2012 with regular programming. ABC ranked #1 on the night with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 (2nd week in a row) and Women 18-49.

Building for the 2nd straight week in Adults 18-49 (+4%), ABC's The Bachelor beat NBC's The Biggest Loser 14 in head-to-head competition from 8-10pm. The ABC unscripted series continued to lead time slot among its core audience of Women 18-34 and stood as Monday's #1 series for the 3rd straight week. The Bachelor hit season highs across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). In fact, the show delivered 16-month highs for ABC in the 2-hour time period in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34 - since 9/19/11.

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle more than doubled the audience NBC's Deception (+141%) and led by increasing margins with key Adults: AD18-49 (+54%) and AD25-54 (+73%). Castle ranked #1 in its slot with Adults 18-34 and all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Gaining 5% week to week in Adults 18-49, Castle equaled its highest rating since October - since 10/29/12. In addition, the ABC drama earned the series' best Adult 18-34 rating in nearly 1 year - since 2/27/12.

Quick Take for Monday, January 21, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

ABC Earns Top Monday in Adults 18-49 with Regular Programming since November

ABC's "The Bachelor" Hits Season Highs across All Key Adult Demos, Turning in 16-Month Highs for ABC from 8-10pm in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34

ABC's "The Bachelor" Beats NBC's "The Biggest Loser" in Adults 18-49

"Castle" More than Doubles the Audience of NBC's "Deception" and Leads with Increasing Margins in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

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

With "The Bachelor" and "Castle" on the rise, ABC delivered its top rated Monday among Adults 18-49 (2.3/6) with regular programming since November 19, 2012. ABC ranked No. 1 on the night with Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 (2nd week in a row) and Women 18-49.

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

Building for the 2nd straight week in Adults 18-49 (+4%), ABC's "The Bachelor" beat NBC's "The Biggest Loser 14" in head-to-head competition from its 8:00 - 10:00 p.m (2.5/6 vs. 2.4/6). The ABC unscripted series continued to lead time slot among its core audience of Women 18-34 and stood as Monday's No. 1 series for the 3rd straight week. "The Bachelor" hit season highs across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). In fact, the show delivered 16-month highs for ABC in the 2-hour time period in Adults 18-34 (2.5/7) and Women 18-34 (3.9/10) - since 9/19/11.

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

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" more than doubled the audience of NBC's "Deception" (+141% - 8.7 million vs. 3.6 million) and led by increasing margins with key Adults: AD18-49 (+54% - 2.0/5 vs. 1.3/3) and AD25-54 (+73% - 2.6/6 vs. 1.5/4). "Castle" ranked No. 1 in its slot with Adults 18-34 (1.5/4) and all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). Gaining 5% week to week in Adults 18-49, "Castle" equaled its highest rating since October - since 10/29/12. In addition, the ABC drama earned the series' best Adult 18-34 rating in nearly 1 year - since 2/27/12.

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 47% currently, from 43% at the same point in 2012. 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), 1/21/13.