TV ratings: ABC ties CBS as ‘Bachelor,’ ‘Castle’ rise

Monday night was a virtual dead heat in the ratings between a “Bachelor-” and “Castle”-fueled ABC and a comedy-driven CBS.

According to early numbers from Nielsen, both major networks earned a rating of 2.4 among 18-to-49-year-olds, the demographic most desired by advertisers. ABC and CBS were also neck and neck in total viewership. ABC had a slight edge, averaging just under 8.8 million viewers, while CBS drew 8.77 million.

Monday night’s episode of “The Bachelor” drew 8.2 million viewers overall and a 2.6 in the key demographic, up 4% from last week, while “Castle” rose 5% to a 2.1.

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CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother” was the highest-rated broadcast program in the demo, though it fell 13% week-to-week to a 3.3. “2 Broke Girls,” “Mike & Molly” and “Intelligence” were all flat from last week, while “Mom” fell slightly. “Mike & Molly” was the most-watched show, with 10.2 million tuning in.

The sci-fi drama “Almost Human” and the Kevin Bacon thriller “The Following” both fell from last week for Fox, which ranked third for the night with a 1.8 rating in 18-49.

NBC’s “Hollywood Game Night” was flat with last week’s 1.5 in 18-49. The network’s only other original was the two-hour “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful” special, which brought in 3.2 million viewers and a 0.9 in 18-49.

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