ABC's "The Bachelor" Earns New Season Highs

Up over the prior week in viewers (+5%) and young adults (+14%), ABC took second place on Monday night, beating Fox and NBC. The Net won Monday in Adults 18-34, Women 18-49 and Women 18-34 (5th consecutive week). In Adults 18-49, ABC posted its top Monday with regular programming since May 21, 2012.

Hitting season highs, ABC's The Bachelor beat out NBC's The Biggest Loser 14 in Adults 18-49 for the 4th week straight week, leading by a best-yet 35% (up from 14% the prior week). The ABC unscripted series won its 2-hour time slot for the 4th time in its last 5 telecasts in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49. Building week to week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+13%), The Bachelor posted its strongest numbers this season, and excluding only season finales marked the show's top telecast since March 2011 - since 3/7/11. In addition, the program tied the Net's best Adult 18-49 number in the time period since April 30, 2012.

ABC's Castle finished a strong second in the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while holding the #1 position against its drama competition on CBS (Hawaii Five-0) and NBC (Deception) in Adults 18-34 and across all key Women. Gaining 11% in Adults 18-49, Castle equaled its highest rating since October 29, 2012. The ABC drama earned season highs with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

Quick Take for Monday, February 11, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

ABC Posts Top Monday in Adults 18-49 with Regular Programming Since May

ABC's "The Bachelor" Hits New Season Highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Earning the Franchise's Top Non-Finale Numbers Since March 2011

ABC's "Castle" Equals Highest Adults 18-49 Number Since October and Posts Season Highs in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34

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

Up over the prior week in viewers (+5%) and young adults (+14%), ABC took second place on Monday night, beating Fox and NBC. The Net won Monday in Adults 18-34, Women 18-49 and Women 18-34 (5th consecutive week). In Adults 18-49 (2.5/7), ABC posted its top Monday with regular programming since May 21, 2012.

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

Hitting season highs, ABC's "The Bachelor" beat out NBC's "The Biggest Loser 14" in Adults 18-49 (2.7/7 vs. 2.0/5) for the 4th straight week, leading by a best-yet 35% (up from 14% the prior week). The ABC unscripted series won its 2-hour time slot for the 4th time in its last 5 telecasts in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49. Building week to week in Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+13%), "The Bachelor" posted its strongest numbers this season (8.4 million and 2.7/7, respectively), and excluding only season finales marked the franchise's top telecast since March 2011 - since 3/7/11. In addition, the program tied the Net's best Adult 18-49 number in the time period since April 30, 2012.

· "The Bachelor" improved on its year-ago telecast by 4% in Total Viewers and by 8% in Adults 18-49 - 8.1 million and 2.5/6 on 2/13/12.

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

ABC's "Castle" finished a strong second in the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (8.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/5), while holding the No. 1 position against its drama competition on CBS ("Hawaii Five-0") and NBC ("Deception") in Adults 18-34 and across all key Women. Gaining 11% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/5 vs. 1.8/5), "Castle" equaled its highest rating since October 29, 2012. The ABC drama earned season highs with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

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), 2/11/13.