“NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams” Posts Best Season In Eight Years And Best Advantage Over The Competition In Two Years

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 – “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” was #1 in total viewers and all 18-49 and 25-54 demo ratings for the 2013-2014 season, according to Nielsen Media Research data.

Nightly posted its best delivery in total viewers in eight seasons (since the 2005-06 season) and its biggest advantages over ABC and CBS since the 2011-12 season

Nightly posted the biggest audience growth versus the 2012-13 season (+6%, or +481,000) and also had its biggest season-to-season gain in total viewers in over 20 years (since the 1992-93 season).

Nightly widened its total viewer lead over ABC by +26% versus the 2012-13 season, distancing itself from ABC by the biggest season-to-season margin in four years (since 2009-10 season)

The 3-net total viewer audience (23.5 million) hit its highest level since the 2005-06 season. Nightly represented 44% of the overall increase versus the 2012-13 season, followed by CBS (29%) and ABC (27%).

2013-2014 SEASON

2012-2014 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nightly was #1 in total viewers and all 18-49 and 25-54 demo ratings.
• Nightly averaged 8.829 million total viewers, +11% (+900,000) ahead of ABC World News’ 7.929 million viewers and +31% (+2,087,000) more than CBS Evening News’ 6.742 million viewers.
• Nightly averaged a 1.8 A25-54 rating, +1 tenth more than ABC’s 1.7 rating and +4 tenths more than CBS’ 1.4 rating.
• Among A25-54 (000), Nightly averaged 2.162 million viewers, +5% (+111,000) more than ABC’s 2.051 million and +31% (+508,000) ahead of CBS’ 1.654 million.
• Nightly averaged 1.601 million A18-49 viewers, +13% (+189,000) more than ABC and +41% (+467,000) ahead of CBS.
• Nightly averaged a 1.3 A18-49 rating, beating ABC by +2 tenths and CBS by +4 tenths.
• Nightly was the only evening newscast to post a gain in rating M18-49 versus last season.

Nightly has been #1 in:

• Total Viewers for 18 consecutive seasons
• Rating Adults 25-54 for 18 consecutive seasons (1 tie)
• Rating Women 25-54 for 6 consecutive seasons
• Rating Men 25-54 for 18 consecutive seasons
• Adults 18-49 for 18 consecutive seasons
• Men 18-49 for 18 consecutive seasons
• Women 18-49 for 7 consecutive seasons (1 tie)

3RD QUARTER 2014 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nightly averaged 7.899 million total viewers, +5% (+360,000) more than ABC and +29% (+1,783,000) more than CBS.
• Versus 3Q’13, Nightly increased its total audience by +3% (+240,000) and its M18-49 rating delivery by +13% (+1 tenth).
• Nightly averaged 1.832 million A25-54 viewers, +23% (+346,000) ahead of CBS.
• Nightly delivered a 1.5 A25-54 rating, leading CBS by +25% (+3 tenths).
• Nightly averaged 1.355 million A18-49 viewers, +4% (+50,000) over ABC and +31% (+318,000) ahead of CBS.
• Nightly delivered a 1.1 A18-49 rating, topping ABC by +10% (+1 tenth) and CBS by 38% (+3 tenths).

Nightly has been #1 in:

• Total Viewers for 28 consecutive quarters
• Rating A18-49 for 28 consecutive quarters
• Rating W18-49 for 26 straight quarters
• Rating M18-49 for 73 straight quarters
• Rating M25-54 for 73 consecutive quarters

WEEK ENDING 9/19/14 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nightly averaged 8.244 million total viewers, +5% (+372,000) more than ABC and +31% (+1,963,000) more than CBS.
• Nightly widened its total viewer lead over ABC for the 3rd consecutive week (advantage widened by +63%).
• Nightly has been #1 in total viewers for 262 consecutive weeks and 309 of the last 310 weeks.
• Nightly averaged 1.927 million A25-54 viewers, leading CBS by +21% (+328,000).
• Nightly’s 1.6 A25-54 rating led CBS by +23% (+3 tenths).
• Nightly was #1 among A18-49 viewers with 1.458 million, leading ABC by +7% (+99,000) and CBS by +32% (+357,000).
• Nightly’s 1.1 A18-49 rating was tied for #1 with ABC and beat CBS by +22% (+2 tenths).
• Versus the same week last season, Nightly posted gains in total viewers (+2%, or +139,000) and rating M18-49 (+11%).
• Nightly was up compared to 3Q’14 levels in total viewers (+5%, or +379,000), rating W/M18-49 (+8%/+11%), and rating W/A25-54 (+12%/+7%). Among A25-54 viewers, Nightly grew by +104,000 demo viewers.

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