ABC's 'Dancing' Sees Best-Ever Results Against NCAA Basketball Championship

Up against CBS' coverage of the 2010 NCAA Basketball Men's Championship Game on the night, ABC stood as Monday's most-watched network for the 3rd straight week (18.1 million) and qualified as the #1 non-sports net with Adults 18-49 (4.4/12). The Network's results jumped over the year-ago Monday by 3.1 million viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (15.0 million and 3.6/9 on 4/6/09).

ABC's Dancing with the Stars finished as Monday's #1 regular program and won its time period for the 3rd consecutive week with Total Viewers (20.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (5.0/14). In fact DWTS posted its strongest-ever performance on the night of the NCAA Basketball Men's Championship, surging by 1.0 million viewers and by 9% in Adults 18-49 over the year-ago night against the game (19.9 million and 4.6/12 on 4/6/09).

For the 3rd week in a row, ABC's Castle finished #1 series in the 10 o'clock hour in both Total Viewers (12.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.0/8). Castle's numbers were way up over its performance on the same night last year opposite the NCAA Basketball Championship, as the ABC sophomore drama built its numbers by over 3 million viewers and by 30% in Adults 18-49 year to year (9.0 million and 2.3/6 on 4/6/09).

Quick Take for Monday, April 5, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Stands as the Most-Watched Net on Monday for the 3rd Week in a Row

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Posts its Strongest-Ever Performance on the Night of the NCAA Basketball Men's Championships

"DWTS" Beats the Combined Performances of NBC and Fox from 8-10pm

"Castle" Finishes as the No. 1 Series at 10pm in Viewers and Young Adults for the 3rd Consecutive Week

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

Up against CBS' coverage of the 2010 NCAA Basketball Men's Championship Game on the night, ABC stood as Monday's most-watched network for the 3rd straight week (18.1 million) and qualified as the No. 1 non-sports net with Adults 18-49 (4.4/12). The Network's results jumped over the year-ago Monday by 3.1 million viewers and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (15.0 million and 3.6/9 on 4/6/09).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" finished as Monday's No. 1 regular program and won its time period for the 3rd consecutive week with Total Viewers (20.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (5.0/14). In fact "DWTS" posted its strongest-ever performance on the night of the NCAA Basketball Men's Championship, surging by 1.0 million viewers and by 9% in Adults 18-49 over the year-ago night against the game (19.9 million and 4.6/12 on 4/6/09).

"DWTS" beat the combined performances of NBC (originals of "Chuck"/"Trauma") and Fox (2-hour original "24") from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. by 8.2 million viewers (20.9 million vs. 12.7 million) and by 22% in Adults 18-49 (5.0/14 vs. 4.1/11).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

For the 3rd week in a row, ABC's "Castle" finished No. 1 series in the 10 o'clock hour in both Total Viewers (12.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.0/8). "Castle" was way up over its performance on the same night last year opposite the NCAA Basketball Championship, as the ABC sophomore drama built its numbers by over 3 million viewers and by 30% in Adults 18-49 year to year (9.0 million and 2.3/6 on 4/6/09).

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 36% currently, from 30% at the same point in 2009. 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: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 4/05/10.

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