ABC Wins Monday with Season Highs

Building on the night, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV network and ranked #1 in Adults 18-49 (tied w/CBS). In Adults 18-49, the Net earned a Monday season high with series programming on the night to its best number since March 26, 2012.

Earning season bests for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's The Bachelor defeated NBC's The Biggest Loser 14 by its biggest margins yet in Total Viewers (+64%) and Adults 18-49 (+43%). Up in Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+11%), The Bachelor achieved new season highs with the franchise's top non-finale numbers in nearly 2 years - since 3/7/11. Continuing to improve year to year, The Bachelor was up over the same night last year by 1.0 million viewers and by 20% in Adults 18-49.

ABC's Castle won the 10 o'clock hour, beating CBS' Hawaii Five-0 by 8% in Total Viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49. It was Monday's most-watched drama overall. Increasing 10% in Adults 18-49 and up for the 2nd week in a row, Castle equaled a season high. The ABC drama posted a new season high with Adults 18-34 for the 2nd week running to its best number in nearly 1 year - since 2/27/12.

Quick Take for Monday, February 18, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

ABC is No. 1 on Monday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

ABC's "The Bachelor" Hits New Season Highs for 2nd Straight Week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Earning the Franchise's Top Non-Finale Numbers Since March 2011

ABC's "Castle" Equals a Season Best in Adults 18-49 and Stands as Monday's Most-Watched Drama

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

Building on the night, ABC was Monday's most-watched TV network (9.4 million) and ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7 - tied w/CBS). In Adults 18-49, the Net earned a Monday season high with series programming on the night to its best number since March 26, 2012.

Editors Please Note: ABC will air a special "The Bachelor: Sean Tells All" tonight, Tuesday, from 9:00-10:00 p.m.

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

Earning season bests for the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "The Bachelor" defeated NBC's "The Biggest Loser 14" by its biggest margins yet in Total Viewers (+64% - 9.2 million vs. 5.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+43% - 3.0/8 vs. 2.1/5). Up week to week in Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 18-49 (+11%), "The Bachelor" achieved new season highs with the franchise's top non-finale numbers in nearly 2 years - since 3/7/11.

· Continuing to improve year to year, "The Bachelor" was up over the same night last year by 1.0 million viewers and by 20% in Adults 18-49 (8.2 million and 2.5/6 on 2/20/12).

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

ABC's "Castle" won the 10 o'clock hour, beating CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" by 8% in Total Viewers (9.7 million vs. 9.0 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 2.0/5). It was Monday's most-watched drama overall. Increasing 10% in Adults 18-49 and up for the 2nd week in a row, "Castle" equaled a season high. The ABC drama posted a new season high with Adults 18-34 for the 2nd week running to its best number 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), 2/18/13.