Nightly News More than Triples its Demo Lead over ABC from 2015, is Only Evening Newscast to Increase A25-54 Viewership from Previous Year
The NBC News Broadcast Wins 18th Straight Month in the Demo
Nightly News Posts Biggest Monthly Total Viewer Win Since April 2016, Excluding the Olympics
The NBC News Broadcast Wins across the Board for Fifth Straight Week
NEW YORK (December 28, 2016) – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” ranked #1 across the board in 2016, averaging 8.5 million total viewers, leading ABC by +170,000 (+2%) and CBS by +1.556 million (+22%). This marks the ninth consecutive year that Nightly News won across the board.
For the year, Nightly News averaged 2.1 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +263,000 (+14%) and CBS by +490,000 (+31%). Nightly News more than tripled its A25-54 lead over ABC compared to 2015 (+263,000 vs. +84,000 in 2015) and it was the only evening newscast to see a gain in A25-54 from the previous year (+24,000, or +1%). The broadcast had its best year in A25-54 impressions since 2014 and biggest advantage over ABC since 2012. Nightly News averaged 1.519 million A18-49 viewers in 2016, +208,000 (+16%) higher than ABC and +420,000 (+38%) more than CBS. The NBC News broadcast posted the biggest A18-49 gain vs. 2015 (+43,000, or +3%) and improved its advantage over ABC by 61% (+208,000 vs. +129,000 in 2015).
Nightly News won December 2016 across the board, delivering its biggest monthly total viewer win in eight months (excluding the Olympics). The NBC News broadcast has ranked #1 in total viewers for 16 of the 18 months since Lester Holt started anchoring and it has won all 18 months in the demo during that time. Nightly News also ranked #1 among A25-54 and A18-49 for Q4 2016.
For the week of December 19, Nightly News averaged 9.2 million total viewers, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +554,000 viewers (+6%) and “CBS Evening News” by +2 million viewers (+28%). It marks the fifth straight across-the-board win for the NBC News broadcast, making Nightly News the only evening newscast to win at least five straight weeks among total viewers since 2007. Excluding the Rio Olympics, this was Nightly News’ biggest advantage over ABC since the week of March 21, 2016.
Nightly News continues its dominance in the demo, averaging 2.2 million A25-54 viewers for the week, leading ABC by +440,000 (+25%) and CBS by +673,000 (+44%). Compared to the same week last season, Nightly News expanded its A25-54 leads over both ABC (+31%) and CBS (+26%). Nightly News posted its biggest non-Olympics demo win over ABC since the week of January 18, 2016.
Among A18-49, Nightly News averaged 1.7 million viewers for the week, topping ABC by +366,000 (+28%) and CBS by +574,000 (+53%). The NBC News broadcast has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 73 of the last 74 weeks. Excluding the Rio Olympics, Nightly held its biggest A18-49 leads over ABC and CBS since the week of November 16, 2015.
For the week of December 19, Nightly News is based on a three-day average (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) while CBS and ABC are based on five-day averages.
2016 Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 8.5 million total viewers, leading ABC by +170,000 (+2%) and CBS by +1.556 million (+22%)
- Nightly News averaged 2.1 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +263,000 (+14%) and CBS by +490,000 (+31%).
- Nightly News more than tripled its A25-54 lead over ABC compared to 2015 (+263,000 vs. +84,000 in 2015).
- Nightly News was the only evening newscast to see a gain in A25-54 vs. 2015 (+24,000, or +1%). The broadcast had its best year in A25-54 impressions since 2014 and biggest advantage over ABC since 2012.
- Nightly averaged 1.52 million A18-49 viewers, +208,000 (+16%) higher than ABC and +420,000 (+38%) more than CBS.
- Nightly News posted the biggest A18-49 gain vs. 2015 (+43,000, or +3%) and improved its advantage over ABC by 61% (+208,000 vs. +129,000 in 2015). The broadcast had its best year in A18-49 impressions and biggest advantage over ABC since 2014.
Q4 Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 8.531 million total viewers, leading CBS by +1.5 million viewers (+21%)
- Nightly News averaged 2.1 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +267,000 (+15%) and CBS by +512,000 (+32%).
- Nightly News averaged 1.6 million A18-49 viewers, +230,000 (+17%) higher than ABC and +444,000 (+40%) better than CBS.
December 2016 Highlights:
- Excluding Olympics, Nightly News had its biggest monthly total viewer win in eight months (since April 2016).
- Nightly News ranks #1 in total viewers for 16 of the 18 months since Lester Holt started anchoring.
- Nightly News ranks #1 for 18 consecutive months in A25-54.
- Nightly News drew its largest December A25-54 audience since 2013.
- Nightly News posted its biggest non-Olympics monthly demo advantage over ABC since April 2013.
- Nightly News was the only evening newscast up vs. December 2015 (+1%).
- Nightly News had its largest December A18-49 delivery since 2013.
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News ranked #1 across the board, averaging 9.2 million total viewers, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +554,000 (+6%) viewers and “CBS Evening News” by +2 million viewers (+28%).
- It marks the fifth straight across-the-board win for the NBC News broadcast, making Nightly News the only evening newscast to win at least five straight weeks among total viewers since 2007.
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 73 of the past 74 weeks.
- Nightly News averaged 2.2 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +440,000 (+25%) and CBS by +673,000 (+44%).
- Compared to the same week last season, Nightly News expanded its A25-54 leads over both ABC (by 31%) and CBS (by 26%).
- Week-to-week, Nightly was the only broadcast to improve in A25-54 (+19,000, or +1%) while also posting higher advantages over the competition (56% higher vs. ABC, 41% higher vs. CBS)
- Nightly News averaged 1.7 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +366,000 (+28%) and CBS by +574,000 (+53%).
- Excluding the Rio Olympics, Nightly News held its biggest A18-49 leads over ABC and CBS since the week of November 16, 2015.
- Nightly News was the only evening newscast to increase its A18-49 delivery vs. prior week (+66,000, or +4%) and the same week last season (+96,000, or +6%).
Season Highlights:
- Nightly News is showing its best A25-54 advantages to start a season over ABC and CBS in three years (2013-14).
- Versus last season, Nightly News has increased its A25-54 lead over ABC by 36% (+267,000 vs +197,000 last year).
- Nightly News is posting its best A18-49 delivery in three years, up +1% (+21,000) from the previous year.
Week of December 19 – December 23, 2016:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 9.184 | 1.84 | 2.216 | 1.29 | 1.657 |
| CBS | 7.206 | 1.28 | 1.543 | 0.84 | 1.083 |
| ABC | 8.630 | 1.48 | 1.776 | 1.01 | 1.291 |
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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
