ABC's CASTLE Returns to a 6-Month Ratings High

With DANCING and CASTLE opposite all-original competition, ABC stood as the most-watched net on Monday for the 7th week running, topping CBS (8-10pm comedies/Hawaii Five-0) by 4.4 million, NBC (The Voice/Smash) by 6.3 million viewers and Fox (Bones/House) by 7.6 million viewers. In addition among Adults 18-49, ABC defeated Fox's original drama lineup on the night by 30%.

Monday's most-watched television show, ABC's Dancing with the Stars soared to the top its 2-hour slot for the 7th week in a row, besting runner-up CBS comedies by 6.2 million viewers and NBC's The Voice in head-to-head competition by 6.4 million viewers. In addition, the wide-appealing dance competition beat out Fox's dramas in the slot by 35% in Adults 18-49. DWTS also ranked #1 in its time period with Women 25-54, took second with Women 18-49 and made ABC the #2 broadcaster with Kids 2-11.

After being pre-empted the prior week, ABC's Castle returned as the most-watched TV show in the 10 o'clock hour for its 5th straight telecast, outdrawing CBS' Hawaii Five-0 cross-over episode with NCIS: LA. In addition, the ABC drama ran in a near-tie with the CBS drama in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share on both counts. Also in the hour, Castle beat NBC's Smash by its best-ever margins with Total Viewers (+111%), Adults 18-49 (+33%) and Adults 25-54 (+43%).

· Despite facing all-original competition, ABC's Castle grew over its most recent telecast in Adults 18-49 (+14%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%), hitting a 6-month high in the key young adult sales demo - since 11/7/11