ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Builds Audience Against the NCAA Basketball Championship and "Castle" Marks Most-Watched-Ever Repeat

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 12.1 million and 1.8/5 in AD18-49): With DWTS and a repeat Castle up against CBS' NCAA Basketball Championship, ABC ranked a strong #2 on Monday in Total Viewers, topping NBC with originals of The Voice and American Dream Builders by 25% (12.1 million vs. 9.7 million). In addition, ABC continued to dominate Fox's original drama lineup on the night in Adults 18-49, leading by 20% (1.8/5 vs. 1.5/4).

· DWTS was the night's most-watched TV series overall and ABC's repeat Castle was Monday's most-watched drama.

Dancing with the Stars (8-10pm - 13.9 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49): From 8-10pm, against CBS' NCAA Basketball Championship, ABC's Dancing with the Stars finished as Monday's most-watched TV series for the 4th week in a row, topping NBC's The Voice in head-to-head competition by a best-of-season 2.1 million viewers (13.9 million vs. 11.8 million). Among young adults in the time period, ABC's DWTS beat Fox's original dramas (Bones/The Following) by 40% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.5/4) and by 36% in Adults 18-34 (1.5/5 vs.1.1/4).

· Despite the big competition, DWTS was up week to week in Total Viewers and paced within 1-tenth of its week-ago Fast Affiliate numbers (13.7 million and 2.2/6). In addition, the show was up year to year against the NCAA Basketball Championship by 5% in Total Viewers, while holding even in Adults 18-49 (13.2 million and 2.1/6 on 4/8/13). In fact, Dancing was the only original program to grow its overall audience year to year opposite the championship game, as NBC The Voice and Fox's The Following were down by -16% (11.8 million vs. 14.0 million) and -30% (4.4 million vs. 6.3 million), respectively.

Castle (10-11pm - 8.6 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49): During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's repeat Castle was the #1 series with a 3.1 million viewer advantage over NBC's original American Dream Builders (8.6 million vs. 5.5 million). In fact, Castle was most-watched drama of the night, outdrawing Fox's originals of Bones (6.5 million) and The Following (4.4 million). And Castle nearly tied The Following in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.4/4). Castle delivered its most-watched encore ever - in its 6 season on the air.

Quick Take for Monday, April 7, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" is Monday's Most-Watched TV Show, While ABC's Repeat "Castle" Stands as Monday's Most-Watched Drama

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Leads NBC's "The Voice" Head to Head By a Best-of-Season 2.1 Million Viewers

At 10pm, ABC's "Castle" Delivers Most-Watched Encore Telecast Ever

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 12.1 million and 1.8/5 in AD18-49):

With "DWTS" and a repeat "Castle" up against CBS' NCAA Basketball Championship, ABC ranked a strong No. 2 on Monday in Total Viewers, topping NBC with originals of "The Voice" and "American Dream Builders" by 25% (12.1 million vs. 9.7 million). In addition, ABC continued to dominate Fox's original drama lineup on the night in Adults 18-49, leading by 20% (1.8/5 vs. 1.5/4).

· "DWTS" was the night's most-watched TV series overall and ABC's repeat "Castle" was Monday's most-watched drama.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 13.9 million and 2.1/6 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:00 p.m., against CBS' NCAA Basketball Championship, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" finished as Monday's most-watched TV series for the 4th week in a row, topping NBC's "The Voice" in head-to-head competition by a best-of-season 2.1 million viewers (13.9 million vs. 11.8 million). Among young adults in the time period, ABC's "DWTS" beat Fox's original dramas ("Bones"/"The Following") by 40% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/6 vs. 1.5/4) and by 36% in Adults 18-34 (1.5/5 vs.1.1/4).

· Despite the big competition, "DWTS" was up week to week in Total Viewers and paced within 1-tenth of its week-ago Fast Affiliate young adult number (13.7 million and 2.2/6). In addition, the show was up year to year against the NCAA Basketball Championship by 5% in Total Viewers, while holding even in Adults 18-49 (13.2 million and 2.1/6 on 4/8/13). In fact, "Dancing" was the only original program to grow its overall audience year to year opposite the championship game, as NBC's "The Voice" and Fox's "The Following" were down by -16% (11.8 million vs. 14.0 million) and -30% (4.4 million vs. 6.3 million), respectively.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.6 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's repeat "Castle" was the No. 1 series with a 3.1 million viewer advantage over NBC's original "American Dream Builders" (8.6 million vs. 5.5 million). In fact, "Castle" was the most-watched drama of the night, outdrawing Fox's originals of "Bones" (6.5 million) and "The Following" (4.4 million). And, "Castle" nearly tied "The Following" in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4 vs. 1.4/4). "Castle" delivered its most-watched encore ever - in its 6 seasons on the air.

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, 4/7/14.