Nightly News Up +687% over ABC in the Demo versus Last Season
Nightly is #1 in All Categories for Third Quarter 2016
NBC Broadcast Wins the Week across the Board Again
NEW YORK (September 20, 2016) – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” finished the 2015-16 season ranked #1 in total viewers and all demos, marking its 20th consecutive across-the-board season win. Nightly News averaged 8.577 million total viewers for the season, +274,000 (+3%) ahead of ABC and +1.567 million (+22%) more than CBS.
In the key A25-54 demo, the NBC broadcast averaged 2.1 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +244,000 (+13%) and CBS by +483,000 (+30%). Nightly News improved its A25-54 lead over ABC by over 687% from the previous season (+244,000 lead for 2015-16 season vs. +31,000 for 2014-15 season) and added the most A25-54 viewers versus last season (+35,000, +2%). Nightly News more than doubled its A18-49 advantage over ABC versus last season (105%, vs. a +102,000 lead last season), averaging 1.514 million A18-49 viewers, outperforming ABC by +209,000 (+16%) and CBS by +415,000 (+38%).
Nightly News won across the board for the third quarter of 2016, averaging 8.182 million total viewers, outperforming ABC by 506,000 (+7%) and CBS by +1.867 million (+30%). Nightly News averaged 2.076 million A25-54 viewers, +420,000 (+25%) more than ABC and +634,000 (+44%) ahead of CBS. Among A25-54 viewers, Nightly News has won 31 of the last 34 quarters.
Nightly News was also #1 across the board for the week of September 12, averaging 7.76 million total viewers, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +61,000 (+1%) and “CBS Evening News” by +1.49 million (+24%). The NBC News broadcast has won across the board for 10 consecutive weeks, while topping among total viewers for 12 of the past 14 weeks.
Nightly News continues its dominance in the demo, averaging 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +224,000 (+14%) and CBS by +452,000 (+32%). Among A18-49, Nightly News averaged 1.4 million viewers, topping ABC by +208,000 (+18%) and CBS by +380,000 (+39%). The NBC News broadcast has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 59 of the last 60 weeks.
2015-16 Season Highlights:
- Nightly News is the #1 evening news program in total viewers, A25-54 viewers, and A18-49 viewers.
- Nightly News averaged 8.577 million total viewers, +274,000 (+3%) ahead of ABC and +1.567 million (+22%) more than CBS.
- Nightly News averaged 2.096 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +244,000 (+13%) and CBS by +483,000 (+30%).
- Nightly News added the most A25-54 viewers versus last season (+35,000, +2%).
- Nightly News improved its A25-54 lead over ABC by over 687% (+244,000 lead for 2015-16 season vs. +31,000 for 2014-15 season).
- Nightly News averaged 1.514 million A18-49 viewers, outperforming ABC by +209,000 (+16%) and CBS by +415,000 (+38%).
- Nightly News more than doubled its A18-49 advantage over ABC versus last season (105%, vs. a +102,000 lead last season).
Q3 2016 Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 8.182 million total viewers, outperforming ABC by 506,000 (+7%) and CBS by +1.867 million (+30%).
- Nightly News has now been #1 in total viewers for 35 of the last 36 quarters, 65 of the last 68 quarters and 73 of the last 79 quarters.
- Nightly News averaged 2.076 million A25-54 viewers, +420,000 (+25%) more than ABC and +634,000 (+44%) ahead of CBS.
- Among A25-54 viewers, Nightly News has won 31 of the last 34 quarters.
- Nightly News averaged a 1.74 A25-54 rating, +0.35 higher than ABC and +0.53 better than CBS.
- Nightly News averaged 1.511 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +313,000 (+26%) and CBS by +526,000 (+53%).
- Among A18-49 viewers, Nightly News has now won 35 of the last 36 quarters and 76 of the last 79 quarters.
- Nightly News averaged a 1.19 A18-49 rating, +0.25 over ABC and +0.41 over CBS.
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 7.762 million total viewers, leading ABC by +61,000 (1%) and CBS by +1.491 million (+24%).
- Nightly News has won across the board for 10 consecutive weeks and won 12 of the last 14 weeks among total viewers.
- Nightly News averaged 1.854 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +224,000 (+14%) and CBS by +452,000 (+32%).
- Nightly News averaged 1.360 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +208,000 (+18%) and CBS by +380,000 (+39%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 59 of the past 60 weeks.
- Versus the same week last season, Nightly News improved its A25-54 lead over ABC by 59% (+224,000 last week vs. +141,000 last year) and its A18-49 advantage by 12% (+208,000 vs. +185,000 a year ago).
2015-16 Season:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 8.577 | 1.76 | 2.096 | 1.19 | 1.514 |
| CBS | 7.010 | 1.36 | 1.613 | 0.87 | 1.099 |
| ABC | 8.303 | 1.56 | 1.852 | 1.03 | 1.305 |
Q3 2016:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 8.182 | 1.74 | 2.076 | 1.19 | 1.511 |
| CBS | 6.315 | 1.21 | 1.442 | 0.77 | 0.985 |
| ABC | 7.676 | 1.39 | 1.656 | 0.94 | 1.198 |
Week of September 12 – September 16, 2016:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 7.762 | 1.54 | 1.854 | 1.06 | 1.360 |
| CBS | 6.271 | 1.17 | 1.402 | 0.76 | 0.980 |
| ABC | 7.701 | 1.36 | 1.630 | 0.90 | 1.152 |
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ABOUT NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH LESTER HOLT
“NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” is America’s most-watched evening newscast, going beyond the day’s headlines to uncover stories of how people’s lives are affected by the world around them. “NBC Nightly News” reaches over 24 million people every week through its broadcast and millions more through NBCNews.com, the “Nightly News” app, and social media platforms. Lester Holt is the anchor and Sam Singal is the executive producer.
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For more information contact:
Jake Urbanski
NBC News
212-664-3211
