With DWTS, the debut of Romantically Challenged and Castle, ABC qualified as Monday’s most-watched TV network for the 5th consecutive week (15.8 million) and placed #1 on the night for the 4th time in 5 weeks among Adults 18-49 (3.8/10). ABC topped its nearest competition on the evening by 5.6 million viewers (CBS = 10.2 million) and by 12% in young adults (CBS and Fox = 3.4/9). ABC’s Monday results increased year to year by 1.0 million viewers and by 9% in Adults 18-49 (14.8 million and 3.5/9 on 4/20/09).
Becoming a half-hour shorter in duration this week, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars won its time period for the 5th week running in both Total Viewers (20.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.7/13). DWTS led its time period by wide margins, outdelivering second-place Fox with originals of House and 24 by 10.8 million viewers and by 31% in Adults 18-49 (Fox = 10.0 million and 3.6/10). DWTS registered as Monday’s most-watched television series for the 5th week running. Despite its shorter duration this week, DWTS grew its overall audience from the prior week (20.8 million vs. 20.6 million).
ABC’s series debut of Romantically Challenged finished a solid second the 9:30pm half-hour in Total Viewers (11.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.1/8) against CBS’ veteran comedy The Big Bang Theory, beating the final half-hour of Fox’s 24 by 2.6 million viewers and by 11% in Adults 18-49 (24 = 9.0 million and 2.8/7). Among Adults 18-49, Romantically Challenged stands as ABC’s highest-rated debut in the half-hour coming out of Dancing with the Stars in 2-1/2 years – since 10/15/07 with Samantha Who?
ABC’s Castle earned a strong second place to CBS’ CSI: Miami in Monday’s 10 o’clock hour among Total Viewers (10.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/8). The ABC sophomore drama surged over its performance on the same night last year, jumping by 2.3 million viewers and by 29% in Adults 18-49 year to year (8.2 million and 2.1/6 on 4/20/09).
Please Note: DWTS aired from 8-9:32pm and Romantically Challenged from 9:32-10:00pm, so the numbers for both programs will adjust this afternoon with the release of the National program ratings.
(source: ABC)
