Monday Primetime: On the heels of its dominant victory the prior week with The Bachelor finale, ABC turned in another big Monday win with the 12th season premiere of Dancing with the Stars leading into Castle.
During prime, ABC beat out its closest competition (CBS) by 10.3 million viewers (19.1 million vs. 8.8 million) and by 61% in Adults 18-49 (4.5/13 vs. 2.8/8). In fact it was the 2nd straight week for ABC to win all 6 half-hours on Monday evening in viewers and young adults.
Hitting a season-high on the night, ABC generated the most-watched Monday for any network in nearly 1 year – since 3/29/10.
DWTS: Dominating each of its half-hours from 8-10pm, ABC’s 12th season opener of Dancing with the Stars towered over second-place CBS in the time period by 13.5 million viewers (22.3 million vs. 8.8 million) and by 89% in Adults 18-49 (5.1/15 vs. 2.7/8).
In fact it was ABC’s 5th consecutive week to lead the time period in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 and the 8th consecutive week in Adults 18-34.
DWTS’ audience surged from its first hour to its second hour, gaining 2.8 million viewers (20.9 million to 23.7 million) and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (4.7/14 to 5.6/15).
DWTS was up from its most-recent season opener in September by 1.0 million viewers (21.3 million on 9/20/10). In fact it was Dancing’s 3rd-most-watched premiere ever.
Castle: Monday’s #2 TV show to DWTS, ABC’s Castle (12.7 million and 3.3/9) turned in a dominant first-place finish in the 10 o’clock hour in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, leading CBS’ original Hawaii Five-0 (9.8 million and 2.9/8) and NBC’s Harry’s Law (8.2 million and 1.6/4). It was the ABC drama’s 2nd straight original episode to win its time period on both measures.
Achieving season-highs in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC’s Castle marked its strongest performance since March 2010 – since 3/29/10. In viewers and young adults, it was Castle’s 3rd straight original telecast to grow over the previous episode.
(source: ABC)
