ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight" Debuts with Best December Time Slot Results in 5 Years

ABC Monday Prime 8-11pm (6.5 million and 1.6/4 in AD18-49): ABC was up over the same night last year (4.7 million and 1.1/3 on 12/10/12) in Total Viewers (+38%) and Adults 18-49 (+45%).

Please Note: ABC's Monday line-up was pre-empted in Chicago for local NFL coverage.

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town 8-9pm (6.4 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49): During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's encore of Santa Claus is Comin' to Town was up from its year-ago telecast (on 12/11/12) in Total Viewers (+14% - 6.4 million vs. 5.6 million) and held even in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5).

The Great Christmas Light Fight 9-10pm (6.6 million and 1.8/4 in AD18-49): Building on its lead-in at 9pm, ABC's debut of The Great Christmas Light Fight opened with strong year-to-year time-period improvement, boosting the hour by 40% in Total Viewers (6.6 million vs. 4.7 million) and by 50% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.2/3) over an original Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on the same night last year. In fact excluding New Year's Eve, it was ABC's best December performance in the time period in 5 years - since 12/08/08 and 12/29/08, respectively.

Castle 10-11pm (6.5 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49): During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's repeat Castle topped CBS' first-run Hostages in Total Viewers (6.5 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.1/3). In addition, the ABC drama was up from its year-ago encore telecast with viewers and young adults (5.1 million and 1.1/3 on 12/10/12).

Quick Take for Monday, December 9, 2013 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC Improves on the Same Monday Last Year By 38% in Total Viewers and by 45% in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" Annual Telecast Grows Its Overall Audience by 14% From the Prior Year

ABC's Debut of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" Increases ABC's Numbers at 9pm Year To Year in Both Total Viewers (+40%) and Adults 18-49 (+50%)

ABC's Repeat "Castle" Tops CBS' First-Run "Hostages" In Overall Viewers and Young Adults

Monday Night 8:00-11:00 p.m. (6.5 million and 1.6/4 in AD18-49): ABC was up over the same night last year (4.7 million and 1.1/3 on 12/10/12) in Total Viewers (+38%) and Adults 18-49 (+45%).

Please Note: ABC's Monday line-up was pre-empted in Chicago for local NFL coverage.

"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 6.4 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):

During the 8 o'clock hour, ABC's encore of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" was up from its year-ago telecast (on 12/11/12) in Total Viewers (+14% - 6.4 million vs. 5.6 million) and held even in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5).

"The Great Christmas Light Fight" (9:00-10:00 p.m. - 6.6 million and 1.8/4 in AD18-49):

Building on its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's debut of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" opened with strong year-to-year time-period improvement, boosting the hour by 40% in Total Viewers (6.6 million vs. 4.7 million) and by 50% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.2/3) over an original "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on the same night last year. In fact excluding New Year's Eve, it was ABC's best December performance in the time period in 5 years - since 12/08/08 and 12/29/08, respectively.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 6.5 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's repeat "Castle" topped CBS' first-run "Hostages" in Total Viewers (6.5 million vs. 4.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.1/3). In addition, the ABC drama was up from its year-ago encore telecast with viewers and young adults (5.1 million and 1.1/3 on 12/10/12).

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 48% currently, from 46% 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, 12/9/13.