ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight Surges Year to Year

Please Note: ABC's Monday lineup was preempted for local NFL coverage in Atlanta, Milwaukee and Green Bay.

The Great Christmas Light Fight (8-10pm - 7.6 million and 1.9/5 in AD18-49): Improving its 8-10pm time slot week to week with young adults (+19%), ABC's premiere of The Great Christmas Light Fight jumped year to year by 38% in Total Viewers (7.6 million vs. 5.5 million) and by 36% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.4/4) for the program's best numbers ever.

Castle (10-11pm - 8.0 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49): ABC's Castle was the #1 series in Adults 18-49 during the 10pm hour, ahead of NBC's State of Affairs (1.6/5) and CBS' NCIS: LA (1.6/5). In addition, Castle delivered more viewers than NBC's The Voice-driven State of Affairs for the 4th week running (8.0 million vs. 6.3 million). The ABC drama also held the #1 series position in the time slot with Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54 and key Women (W18-49/W25-54). Castle was up 13% week to week in Adults 18-49.

Quick Take for Monday, December 8, 2014 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight" Premiere Post Double-Digits Increases Year to Year in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 to its Best Numbers Ever

ABC's "Castle" is the No. 1 Series at 10pm across All Key Adult Demos; Outdelivers NBC's "State of Affairs" for 4th Consecutive Week in Total Viewers

Please Note: ABC's Monday lineup was preempted for local NFL coverage in Atlanta, Milwaukee and Green Bay (3.2% U.S.).

"The Great Christmas Light Fight" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 7.6 million and 1.9/5 in AD18-49):

Improving its 8:00-10:00 p.m. time slot week to week with young adults (+19%), ABC's premiere of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" jumped year to year by 38% in Total Viewers (7.6 million vs. 5.5 million) and by 36% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.4/4) for the program's best numbers ever.

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.0 million and 1.7/5 in AD18-49):

ABC's "Castle" was the No. 1 series in Adults 18-49 during the 10:00 p.m. hour, ahead of NBC's "State of Affairs" (1.6/5) and CBS' "NCIS: LA" (1.6/5). In addition, "Castle" delivered more viewers than NBC's "The Voice"-driven "State of Affairs" for the 4th week running (8.0 million vs. 6.3 million). The ABC drama also held the No. 1 series position in the time slot with Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54 and key Women (W18-49/W25-54). "Castle" was up 13% week to week 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 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 Ratings, 12/8/14.