"Dancing with the Stars" Hits to Best-Since-Premiere Results/"Castle" Marks 5-Month High in Viewers and 3-Month High in Adults 18-49

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 13.4 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49): ABC was the most-watched TV network on the first Monday of the May Sweep for the 8th straight year, leading the night for the 3rd consecutive week and outdrawing runner-up NBC by 20% (13.4 million vs. 11.2 million). The Net finished a strong 2nd on the night in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6), outdelivering CBS by 38% (1.6/5) and Fox's drama finales by 83% (1.2/3). Dancing was the night's most-watched TV program overall.

· In viewers and young adults, the Network posted its top Monday in 6 weeks - since 3/17/14.

· ABC was the only net up over the same Monday last May Sweep in Adults 18-49 (4/29/13), gaining 7% in viewers and 5% in young adults.

Dancing with the Stars (8-10pm - 15.1 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49): From 8-10pm, ABC's DWTS finished as the night's most-watched TV series for the 7th week running, outdrawing NBC's The Voice head-to-head by a best-of-season 3.7 million viewers (15.1 million vs. 11.4 million). And continuing to close the gap with young adults, Dancing marked its most competitive Adult 18-49 finish this season with The Voice, coming within 6-tenths of a rating point (vs. 8-tenths difference last week and a 1.1 rating point difference two weeks ago).

· Dancing was up week to week in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+9%), delivering best-since premiere numbers - since 3/17/14. In addition, DWTS was up over the same night last year (13.5 million and 2.1/6 on 4/29/13) by double digits in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), tallying its 5th consecutive week of year-over-year gains on both measures.

Castle (10-11pm - 10.1 million and 1.9/5 in AD18-49): During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle was up week to week in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+6%), drawing its biggest audience in 5 months and hitting a nearly 3-month high with young adults - since 11/25/13 and 2/3/14, respectively.

Quick Take for Monday, April 28, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live +Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Network for the 3rd Week in a Row; Wins Opening Monday of May Sweep in Total Viewers for 8th Straight Year

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Delivers Best-Since-Premiere Performance, Outdraws NBC's "The Voice" by Season-Best 3.7 Million Viewers

ABC's "Castle" Attracts Largest Overall Audience Since November and Posts Strongest Adults 18-49 Number Since February

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 13.4 million and 2.2/6 in AD18-49):

ABC was the most-watched TV network on the first Monday of the May Sweep for the 8th straight year, leading the night for the 3rd consecutive week and outdrawing runner-up NBC by 20% (13.4 million vs. 11.2 million). The Net finished a strong 2nd on the night in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6), outdelivering CBS by 38% (1.6/5) and Fox's dramas by 83% (1.2/3). "Dancing" was the night's most-watched TV program overall.

· In viewers and young adults, the Network posted its top Monday in 6 weeks - since 3/17/14.

· ABC was the only net up over the same Monday last May Sweep in Adults 18-49 (4/29/13), gaining 7% in viewers and 5% in young adults.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 15.1 million and 2.4/7 in AD18-49):

From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "DWTS" finished as the night's most-watched TV series for the 7th week running, outdrawing NBC's "The Voice" head-to-head by a best-of-season 3.7 million viewers (15.1 million vs. 11.4 million). And continuing to close the gap with young adults, "Dancing" marked its most competitive Adult 18-49 finish this season with "The Voice," coming within 6-tenths of a rating point (vs. 8-tenths difference last week and a 1.1 rating point difference two weeks ago).

· "Dancing" was up week to week in viewers (+7%) and young adults (+9%), delivering best-since premiere numbers - since 3/17/14. In addition, "DWTS" was up over the same night last year (13.5 million and 2.1/6 on 4/29/13) by double digits in Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 18-49 (+14%), tallying its 5th consecutive week of year-over-year gains on both measures.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 10.1 million and 1.9/5 in AD18-49):

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+6%), drawing its biggest audience in 5 months and hitting a nearly 3-month high with young adults - since 11/25/13 and 2/3/14, respectively.

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, 4/28/14.