CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Up for 2nd Straight Year

With "CMA Country Christmas" and "Castle," ABC took second on Monday night to NBC ("The Voice"/"State of Affairs") in Total Viewers (8.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.5/4). For the 2nd week in a row, ABC's "Castle" was Monday's most-watched scripted TV show, topping runner-up NBC's "The Voice"-led "State of Affairs" by 1.4 million viewers (8.4 million vs. 7.0 million).

"CMA Country Christmas" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 8.9 million and 1.6/4 in AD18-49):
Despite going head to head with NBC's "The Voice" from 8:00-10:00 p.m. (on the year-ago night, it aired from 9:00-11:00 p.m. against the final hour of "The Voice" into "Blacklist"), CMA "Country Christmas" was up for the 2nd consecutive year in both Total Viewers (+20% - 8.9 million vs. 7.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.6/4 vs. 1.5/4). In fact, "CMA Country Christmas" delivered its 2nd-best-ever numbers in viewers and young adults. The ABC special was the night's No. 2 entertainment show in viewers and young adults, behind only NBC's "The Voice."

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 8.4 million and 1.5/4 in AD18-49):
Although airing out of a smaller lead-in at 10:00 p.m. (after following the "Dancing" finale the prior Monday), ABC's "Castle" was the most-watched series in its hour, drawing a larger audience than NBC's "State of Affairs" for the 3rd time in as many tries (8.4 million vs. 7.0 million) and ran in a virtual tie with Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.6/5). In addition, the ABC drama beat NBC's "State of Affairs" in Adults 18-34, Men 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

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 49% currently, from 48% at the same point in 2013. 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: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Program Ratings, 12/1/14.

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