ABC Wins Monday/"Bachelor" Builds to Best-Since Premiere Rating/"Castle" Wins with Its Top Numbers Since November

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 8.8 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49): With The Bachelor and Castle, ABC was Monday's most-watched network overall (8.8 million) and ranked #1 in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 - tied w/CBS in rating). For the 4th straight week, the Net was #1 on Monday with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). ABC drew its biggest audience on the night in 10 weeks (since 11/25/13) tied a Monday season high in Adults 18-49.

The Bachelor (8-10pm - 8.2 million and 2.6/7 in AD18-49): Gaining for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+4%), The Bachelor earned a best-since-premiere rating - since 1/6/14. In addition, The Bachelor was up over its year-ago telecast (7.9 million and 2.4/6 on 2/4/13) in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

Castle (10-11pm - 9.9 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49): Winning the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle improved over its most-recent original two weeks ago in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - up for 3rd straight original) to deliver its highest numbers since November - since 11/25/13. Castle surged by double digits from the same night last year (8.9 million and 1.8/5 on 2/4/13) in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%).

· On average, the ABC drama is tracking to deliver its best season ever, growing over the same point last year by 10% in Total Viewers and by 8% in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Monday, February 3, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 On the First Monday of the February Sweep

ABC's "The Bachelor" Hits Best-Since-Premiere Performance in Adults 18-49

ABC's "Castle" Leads its Time Slot and Stands as Monday's No. 1 Drama in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.8 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):

On the first Monday of the February Sweep, ABC was the most-watched network overall (8.8 million) and ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (2.4/7 - tied w/CBS in rating). For the 4th straight week, the Net was No. 1 on Monday with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). ABC drew its biggest audience on the night in 10 weeks (since 11/25/13) tied a Monday season high in Adults 18-49.

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.2 million and 2.6/7 in AD18-49):

Building from its first to second hour, "The Bachelor" won the 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49 for the 2nd week in a row (2.7/7), outdelivering CBS' comedies by 8% (2.5/6 - "Mike & Molly"/"Mom") and Fox's "The Following" by 42% (1.9/5). For the 4th week running, the ABC unscripted series won its 2-hour slot in Adults 18-34 and was Monday's No. 1 TV show in key Women (W18-34/W18-49). Gaining for the 2nd week in Adults 18-49 (+4%), "The Bachelor" earned a best-since-premiere rating - since 1/6/14.

· "The Bachelor" was up over its year-ago telecast (7.9 million and 2.4/6 on 2/4/13) in Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.9 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49):

Winning the 10 o'clock hour and ranking as Monday's No. 1 drama, ABC's "Castle" built on its most-recent original two weeks ago in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+5% - up for 3rd straight original) to earn its highest numbers since November - since 11/25/13. "Castle" surged by double digits from the same night last year (8.9 million and 1.8/5 on 2/4/13) in Total Viewers (+11%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%).

· On average, the ABC drama is tracking to deliver its best season ever, growing over the same point last year by 10% in Total Viewers and by 8% in Adults 18-49.

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 49% currently, from 47% at the same point in 2013. 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, 2/3/14.