Dateline Delivers Biggest Advantages over ABC in 17 Years
Only Newsmagazine to Add Viewers From May 2016 Sweeps
May 24, 2017 – “Dateline NBC” ranked #1 across the board among Friday newsmagazines for the May 2016 sweep period, averaging 4.6 million total viewers and outperforming ABC’s “20/20” by +1.3 million total viewers (+39%). This is Dateline’s biggest May win over “20/20” since 2000. Versus May 2016 Sweeps, Dateline Friday and Dateline Sunday were up in total viewers (+216,000 or 5% and +218,000 or 5%), the only newsmagazines to grow in total viewers among “20/20,” “60 Minutes” and “48 Hours.”
Dateline Friday also won the A25-54 and A18-49 demos for the May 2017 period. The broadcast averaged 1.4 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +240,000 (+20%). Among A18-49, Dateline averaged 1.1 million viewers, topping ABC by +181,000 (+20%).
The May sweeps included Dateline investigations on Gianni Versace and Princess Diana.
Compared to the previous sweeps period (February 2017), Dateline was up +878,000 (+24%) total viewers, +128,000 (+10%) A25-54 viewers and +109,000 (+11%) A18-49 viewers.
The broadcast is currently in its 25th anniversary season.
May Sweeps Highlights:
- Dateline Friday averaged 4.6 million total viewers, leading “20/20” by 1.3 million total viewers (+39%.)
- Dateline is the only newsmagazine to show growth in the past year.
- This represents Dateline’s biggest May sweeps win over ABC in 17 years.
- Dateline averaged 1.4 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +240,000 (+20%).
- Among A18-49, Dateline averaged 1.1 million viewers, topping ABC by +181,000 (+20%).
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ABOUT DATELINE NBC
Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history. Now in its 25th season, Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt, featuring correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy. Airing Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT, Dateline reaches more than 20 million people every week through its broadcast, and millions more through its social media platforms. David Corvo is the senior executive producer and Liz Cole is the executive producer. Follow “Dateline NBC” on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @datelinenbc.
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Dominique Cuce
NBC News
212-664-6192
dominique.cuce@nbcuni.com
