ABC Upsets NBC on the Season's Final Monday in AD18-49 - The Bachelorette Opens at a 3-Year High

Monday Night (05/18/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

DWTS: L3 = 16.6 mil/2.5 rtg, L7 = 17.0 mil/2.6 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.9 rtg

ABC Monday Prime (8-11pm - 9.5 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49): With the Dancing Monday finale and The Bachelorette season opener, ABC won the final Monday of the season/sweep in Adults 18-49, upsetting runner-up NBC by 5% (2.2/7 vs. 2.1/7). The Net has finished as the #1 broadcaster during the 2015 May Sweep on 18 of 26 nights so far (incl. ties). ABC was Monday's most-watched TV network for the 6th week in a row (9.5 million) and the 9th time in 10 weeks.

Dancing with the Stars (8-9pm - 14.1 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49):

Shifting back to a shortened 1-hour format (8-9pm), ABC's DWTS finals maintained its status as night's most-watched TV series for the 10th week in a row (on each telecast this season), topping NBC's The Voice Monday finale (8-10pm) by 3.0 million viewers (14.1 million vs. 11.1 million). The #2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49, Dancing's Monday finale closed the gap year to year with NBC's The Voice Monday finale, shrinking the margin to 4-tenths of a rating point last night from a 6-tenths difference on the year-ago night. From 8-9pm, Dancing won its hour over NBC's The Voice in key Women (W18-34/W18-49), Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11. Please Note: The prior season finale was 2-hours in the fall and 90 minutes last spring.

· Despite its shorter duration, Dancing was up for the 2nd straight week in viewers (+4%) and steady with young adults, equaling a season high in Adults 18-49.

The Bachelorette (9-11pm - 7.2 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):

Although starting out against the final hour of NBC's The Voice finale at 9pm, part 1 of ABC's The Bachelorette season premiere marked its 2nd year of Adult 18-49 growth (+5% - 2.1/7 vs. 2.0/6) and held steady in Total Viewers (7.2 million). On both counts, it was the show's best opening since 2012. The Bachelorette won its 2-hour time period among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, key Women (W18-34/W18-49) and Teens 12-17. It was the #1 TV show of the night in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49.

· The Bachelorette delivered a 10-week high for ABC in the time period among Adults 18-49 - since 3/9/15.

Quick Take for Monday, May 18, 2015 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Is Monday's Most Watched Net for 6th-Straight Week and 9th Time in 10 Weeks

"Dancing with the Stars" Monday Finale Equals a Season High in Adults 18-49

"Dancing with the Stars" Is the Night's No. 1 TV Series in Total Viewers On Each of Its 10 Telecasts of the Season

"The Bachelorette" Scores Strongest Season Premiere Performance Since 2012, Standing as Monday's No. 1 Program in Adults 18-34 and Key Women

Monday Night (05/18/15) - ABC Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 Projections

"DWTS": L3 = 16.6 mil/2.5 rtg, L7 = 17.0 mil/2.6 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = 2.9 rtg

"The Bachelorette": L3 = 9.2 mil/2.6 rtg, L7 = 9.3 mil/2.6 rtg and Multiplatform+35 Day = NA

Live + Same Day Results:

ABC Monday Prime (8:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.5 million and 2.2/7 in AD18-49):

With the "Dancing" Monday finale and "The Bachelorette" season opener, ABC won the final Monday of the season/sweep in Adults 18-49, upsetting runner-up NBC by 5% (2.2/7 vs. 2.1/7). The Net has finished as the No. 1 broadcaster during the 2015 May Sweep on 18 of 26 nights so far (incl. ties). ABC was Monday's most watched TV network for the 6th week in a row (9.5 million) and the 9th time in 10 weeks.

· ABC had the top two most social series on Monday with "The Bachelorette" (179,129 tweets) and "DWTS" (134,645), both over taking NBC's "The Voice" (133,771) for the top social spot on the night.

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 14.1 million and 2.2/8 in AD18-49):

Shifting back to a shortened 1-hour format (8:00-9:00 p.m.), ABC's "DWTS" finals maintained its status as night's most watched TV series for the 10th week in a row (on each telecast this season), topping NBC's "The Voice" Monday finale (8:00-10:00 p.m.) by 3.0 million viewers (14.1 million vs. 11.1 million). The No. 2 TV show of the night in Adults 18-49, "Dancing's" Monday finale closed the gap year to year with NBC's "The Voice" Monday finale, shrinking the margin to 4-tenths of a rating point last night from a 6-tenths difference on the year-ago night. From 8:00-9:00 p.m., "Dancing" won its hour over NBC's The Voice in key Women (W18-34/W18-49), Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11. Please Note: The prior season finale was 2-hours in the fall and 90 minutes last spring.

· Despite its shorter duration, "Dancing" was up for the 2nd-straight week in viewers (+4%) and steady with young adults, equaling a season high in Adults 18-49.

"The Bachelorette" (9:00-11:00 p.m. - 7.2 million and 2.1/7 in AD18-49):

Although starting out against the final hour of NBC's "The Voice" finale at 9:00 p.m., part 1 of ABC's "The Bachelorette" season premiere marked its 2nd year of Adult 18-49 growth (+5% - 2.1/7 vs. 2.0/6) and held steady in Total Viewers (7.2 million). On both counts, it was the show's best opening since 2012. "The Bachelorette" won its 2-hour time period among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, key Women (W18-34/W18-49) and Teens 12-17. It was the No. 1 TV show of the night in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49.

· "The Bachelorette" delivered a 10-week high for ABC in the time period among Adults 18-49 - since 3/9/15.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 49% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 5/18/15. Nielsen Socialguide 5/18/15, Total Tweets +/- 3hrs during telecast.