TV Ratings: 'Dancing With the Stars' Returns Low, Takes a Small Share of 'The Voice'

8:55 AM PDT 3/20/2012 by Michael O'Connell

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The ABC series was down nearly 13 percent from last fall's premiere -- and 34 percent year-over-year -- but it managed to knock some wind out of the still-dominant NBC competition.

Dancing with the Stars Maria Menounos Derek Hough Cha Cha - H 201

ABC/ADAM TAYLOR

The fight for Monday really heated up with the return of ABC's Dancing With the Stars. The veteran reality competition boosted the network from a low-rated season of The Bachelor, but it took a major hit going up against The Voice, according to fast affiliate ratings.

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NBC's lineup, still victorious in the demo with a 3.8 among adults 18-49 and 10.1 million viewers, was at season lows against the new competition. The Voice dropped 13 percent for a 4.5 rating in the demo -- easily the strongest broadcast of the night -- and Smash tied its season low with a 2.3 among adults 18-49, down just one-tenth of a point.

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Dancing With the Stars returned with a 3.5 rating in adults 18-49. That's down just 13 percent from the fall premiere, but it marks a heavy 34 percent loss from the start of last spring's cycle and is the series' lowest-rated premiere. Dancing did manage to win among total viewers, averaging 18.5 million. Castle saw a boost from the stronger lead-in, growing 14 percent for a 2.4 in the demo. ABC tied with CBS for second place in the demo with a 3.1 rating for the night and the night's most viewers, 16.3 million.

CBS was all over the map, with losses at 8 p.m., gains at 9 and an even performance at 10. How I Met Your Mother tied its season low of a 3.4 among adults 18-49, with 2 Broke Girls down 11 percent for its series low of a 3.4 rating. Two and a Half Men and Mike & Molly both grew, notching a 3.8 and 3.2 demo rating, respectively, while Hawaii Five-0 was steady with a 2.5, winning its hour. The network averaged a 3.1 adults rating and 9.5 million viewers.

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On Fox, House dropped 17 percent to a 2.0 among adults 18-49 and Alcatraz lost another tenth of a point for a 1.5 demo rating. The network averaged a 1.8 among 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers.

The CW was in repeats.