ABC Wins Season’s Opening Night

BURBANK: ABC won the opening night of the 2010-11 TV season in total viewers and adults 18 to 49, with 17.7 million viewers, followed by CBS in second place with 11.9 million viewers.

ABC posted its most-watched season premiere Monday in 11 years. Dancing with the Stars rose over its year-ago season premiere by 18 percent in total viewers and by 22 percent in adults 18 to 49. The show topped its nearest competition—CBS’s comedy block—by 10 million viewers and by 28 percent in adults 18 to 49.

Castle beat out NBC’s debut of Chase by 3.3 million viewers and by 12 percent in adults 18 to 49. Castle also beat out Hawaii Five-0 among women 18 to 34. The series increased over its year-ago premiere by 20 percent in total viewers and by 22 percent in adults 18 to 49.