ABC's ROMANTICALLY CHALLENGED Opens With Strong Ratings

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.

Quick Take for Monday, April 19, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net for the 5th Week in a Row and for the 4th Time in 5 Weeks Among Adults 18-49

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Wins its Time Period in Viewers and Young Adults for the 5th Straight Week

Improving its Time Period for ABC Year to Year, "Romantically Challenged" Series Debut Tops Fox's "24" at 9:30pm by 2.6 Million Viewers and 11% in Adults 18-49

"Castle" Takes a Strong Second at 10pm, Up Year to Year by 2.3 Million Viewers and by 29% in Young Adults

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

With "Dancing with the Stars," 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 No. 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).

"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:30 p.m.)

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).

"Romantically Challenged" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

ABC's series premiere of "Romantically Challenged" finished a solid second in the 9:30 p.m. 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). The ABC sitcom debut improved the Net's time period performance over the same night last year with original comedy programming by 1.7 million viewers and by 29% in Adults 18-49 (9.9 million and 2.4/6 with "Surviving Suburbia" on 4/20/09).

- 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?"

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

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).

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), 4/19/10.

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