Grows Total Viewer Audience Week Over Week More Than Any Evening Broadcast
Ranks #1 in Key Demo for 62 Consecutive Weeks
Ranks #1 in A18-49 for 107 of Last 108 Weeks, Outperforming Competition by Double-Digits
NEW YORK (August 29, 2017) – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” won the demo most valued by news advertisers for the month of August, marking its 26th straight month at #1, according to Nielsen data.
The broadcast was the most-watched in the key demo, averaging 1.8 million A25-54 viewers this past month, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +116,000 viewers (+7%) and “CBS Evening News” by +500,000 viewers (+40%). Nightly News also increased the most month-over-month, delivering the largest key demo win over CBS in six months.
The network also continued its winning streak among A18-49 viewers, outperforming competition for the 28th straight month. Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, besting ABC by +117,000 viewers (+10%) and CBS by +421,000 viewers (+50%).
Nightly News averaged 7.5 million total viewers in August 2017, leading CBS by +1.8 million viewers (+30%) – its best advantage in seven months.
For the week of August 21, Nightly News ranked #1 in the news demo for the 62nd week in a row, averaging 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +132,000 viewers (+8%) and CBS by +612,000 viewers (+49%).
The broadcast posted its largest A25-54 win over ABC in eight weeks and biggest advantage over CBS in 29 weeks. Nightly News grew the most in the key demo week-over-week, growing by 72,000 in the A25-54 demo and reaching a 22-week high in viewership.
For the week, Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +131,000 viewers (+11%) and CBS by +522,000 viewers (+64%). Among A18-49 viewers, Nightly News has won 107 of the last 108 weeks and reached a 22-week high.
Averaging 7.7 million total viewers, Nightly News delivered the most growth in viewers week-over-week, growing at nearly 3x the rate of ABC while CBS saw a weekly decline in viewership. The broadcast beat CBS Evening News by +1.8 million (+32%) – its biggest win in 31 weeks (since January 16).
Nightly News continues as the #1 evening newscast this season in the key demo, delivering its largest demo lead over CBS in three seasons.
Tune in to “Nightly News” tonight as Holt anchors his fourth straight broadcast on the ground in Texas covering Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath. Follow the broadcast on Facebook and on Twitter for the latest.
Monthly Highlights:
- Nightly News ranked #1 in A25-54 for the 26th consecutive month.
- Nightly News averaged 1.8 million A25-54 viewers in August 2017, leading ABC by +116,000 viewers (+7%) and CBS by +500,000 viewers (+40%).
- Nightly News also increased the most month-over-month, delivering the largest key demo win over CBS in six months.
- Nightly News ranked #1 in A18-49 for the 28th straight month.
- Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +117,000 viewers (+10%) and CBS by +421,000 viewers (+50%).
- Nightly News averaged 7.5 million total viewers in August 2017, leading CBS by +1.8 million viewers (+30%) – it’s largest lead in seven months.
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +132,000 viewers (+8%) and CBS by +612,000 (+49%) and delivering 22-week highs.
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 for 62 consecutive weeks.
- Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +131,000 (+11%) and CBS by +522,000 (+64%).
- Among A18-49 viewers, Nightly News has won 107 of the last 108 weeks.
- Nightly News posted week-to-week growth in both demos.
- Nightly News out-paced the competition in its week-to-week total viewer growth averaging 7.6 million total viewers, leading CBS Evening News by +1.8 million (+32%) – its biggest win in 31 weeks (since January 16).
Season Highlights:
- Nightly News is the #1 evening newscast this season in A25-54 and A18-49, leading its competition by double digits.
- Nightly News holds its largest demo advantages over CBS in three seasons.
Week of August 21 – August 25, 2017:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 7.665 | 1.55 | 1.868 | 1.05 | 1.341 |
| CBS | 5.829 | 1.05 | 1.256 | 0.64 | 0.819 |
| ABC | 7.947 | 1.44 | 1.736 | 0.94 | 1.210 |
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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:
Rachel Zuckerman
NBC News
212-664-3996
