ABC's CMA Country Christmas is Up for the 2nd Year - Castle is Monday's Top Scripted Show

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 8.7 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49): With CMA Country Christmas and Castle, ABC took second on Monday night to NBC (The Voice/State of Affairs) in Total Viewers (8.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.5/4). For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's Castle was Monday's most-watched scripted TV show, topping runner-up NBC's The Voice-led State of Affairs by 1.4 million viewers (8.4 million vs. 7.0 million).

CMA Country Christmas (8-10pm - 8.9 million and 1.6/4 in AD18-49): Despite going head to head with NBC's The Voice from 8-10pm (on the year-ago night, it aired from 9-11pm against the final hour of The Voice into Blacklist), CMA Country Christmas was up for the 2nd consecutive year in both Total Viewers (+20% - 8.9 million vs. 7.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.6/4 vs. 1.5/4). In fact CMA Country Christmas delivered its 2nd-best-ever numbers in viewers and young adults. The ABC special was the night's #2 entertainment show in viewers and young adults, behind only NBC's The Voice.

Castle (10-11pm - 8.4 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49): Although airing out of a smaller lead-in at 10pm, after following the Dancing finale the prior Monday, ABC's Castle was the most-watched series in its hour, drawing a larger audience than NBC's State of Affairs for the 3rd time in as many tries (8.4 million vs. 7.0 million) and ran in a virtual tie with Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.6/5). In addition, the ABC drama beat NBC's State of Affairs in Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

Quick Take for Monday, December 1, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

"CMA Country Christmas" is Up for the 2nd Straight Year; Delivers 2nd-Best-Numbers Ever in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

ABC's "Castle" is Monday's Most-Watched Scripted Show for the 2nd Week in a Row, Leading NBC's "State of Affairs" in Viewers for the 3rd Time in as Many Weeks

Monday Night (12/1/14) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections "Castle:" Live + 3 = 12.3 million/2.2 rating and Live + 7 = 13.5 million/2.4 rating

Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.7 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

With "CMA Country Christmas" and "Castle," ABC took second on Monday night to NBC ("The Voice"/"State of Affairs") in Total Viewers (8.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.5/4). For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Castle" was Monday's most-watched scripted TV show, topping runner-up NBC's "The Voice"-led "State of Affairs" by 1.4 million viewers (8.4 million vs. 7.0 million).

"CMA Country Christmas" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.9 million and 1.6/4 in AD18-49):

Despite going head to head with NBC's "The Voice" from 8:00-10:00 p.m. (on the year-ago night, it aired from 9:00-11:00 p.m. against the final hour of "The Voice" into "Blacklist"), CMA "Country Christmas" was up for the 2nd consecutive year in both Total Viewers (+20% - 8.9 million vs. 7.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.6/4 vs. 1.5/4). In fact, "CMA Country Christmas" delivered its 2nd-best-ever numbers in viewers and young adults. The ABC special was the night's No. 2 entertainment show in viewers and young adults, behind only NBC's "The Voice."

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.4 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):

Although airing out of a smaller lead-in at 10:00 p.m. (after following the "Dancing" finale the prior Monday), ABC's "Castle" was the most-watched series in its hour, drawing a larger audience than NBC's "State of Affairs" for the 3rd time in as many tries (8.4 million vs. 7.0 million) and ran in a virtual tie with Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.6/5). In addition, the ABC drama beat NBC's "State of Affairs" in Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

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 48% 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 Program Ratings, 12/1/14.