ABC's THE BACHELOR Season Finale Hits Highs in Total Viewers & A18-49

Featuring the season 20 finale of "The Bachelor" and the "After the Final Rose" special, ABC won Monday in Adults 18-49 (2.8/9), beating runner-up NBC with "The Voice" and "Blindspot" by 12% (2.5/8). ABC delivered a Monday season high in Adults 18-49 with its top rating on the night in 2 years - since 3/3/14.

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 9.5 million and 2.8/9 in AD18-49): From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelor" season finale spiked to season highs, surging over its last regular telecast two weeks ago (on 2/29/16) by double digits in Total Viewers (+16% - 9.5 million vs. 8.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (+12% - 2.8/9 vs. 2.5/8). "The Bachelor" held even with its year-ago finale in Adults 18-49 (2.8/9 on 3/9/15) and was up in Adults 18-34 (+4%) and Men 18-34 (+15%).

"The Bachelor" Among Season's Top Shows With Upscale Viewers: Among Adults 18-49 in Homes with $100K+ Annual Income (4.94 rating), ABC's "The Bachelor" is the No. 4 entertainment series on broadcast TV this season (behind only "The Big Bang Theory," "Modern Family" and "The X-Files," respectively) and is the No. 1 unscripted series.

"The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 9.2 million and 2.7/9 in AD18-49):
Holding 96% of its lead-in at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" dominated the 10:00 p.m. hour in Adults 18-49 (2.7/8), beating NBC's "Blindspot" by 59% (1.7/5) and more than doubling CBS' "NCIS: LA" (+108% - 1.3/4). It was also the most watched show overall in the time period (9.2 million).

Among Adults 18-49, "The Bachelor" special delivered a season best for ABC in the hour and was even with its year-ago telecast (2.7/8 on 3/9/15).

Projections Rationale:
Lifts vs. L+SD are based on the 2015-16 season for premiere telecast or an average for originals (excluding the premiere).
Returning shows: Profile based on same show (either premiere or averages for originals).
New Series: Based on similar series.

A note about DVR penetration: DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample is currently at 48% in U.S. TV Homes. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which are increasingly not reflected in the overnight Live + Same Day numbers. As a result, the Live + 7 Day ratings are the most accurate measure to gauge the size of the TV audience.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Program Program Ratings, 3/14/16.

Image courtesy of ABC

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