Beats Competition by Double-Digits in Demo Most Valued by News Advertisers
Grows Audience More Than Any Other Evening Newscast
Ranks #1 in A18-49 for 108 of Last 109 Weeks
Week Includes Holt’s Unrivaled Hurricane Harvey Coverage and Four Back-to-Back Broadcasts From Texas
NEW YORK (September 6, 2017) – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” was the #1 most-watched evening broadcast across the board for the week of August 28th according to Nielsen data.
The broadcast continues its winning streak in the in the demo most valued by news advertisers marking its 63rd straight week at #1. Nightly News averaged 2.1 million A25-54 viewers, beating “ABC World News Tonight” by +310,000 viewers (+17%) and “CBS Evening News” by +741,000 viewers (+55%).
Nightly News also grew week-over-week by 13 percent in the A25-54 demo, reaching a 29-week high – its largest A25-54 lead over ABC in 31 weeks and biggest margin over CBS in 54 weeks.
For the week, Nightly News averaged 1.5 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +219,000 viewers (+17%) and CBS by +577,000 viewers (+63%). Among A18-49 viewers, Nightly News has won 108 of the last 109 weeks and reached a 29-week high.
8.5 million total viewers tuned in to Nightly News for the week of August 28, marking its largest audience in 27 weeks. Nightly News bested ABC by +4,000 viewers (+0.04%) and CBS by +2.3 million (+37%). Nightly New posted more week-over-week growth than any other evening newscast.
This week also overlapped with Holt’s unrivaled coverage of Hurricane Harvey and its historic aftermath. Holt was the first network anchor on the ground and anchored four consecutive broadcasts live from Texas (Sat., Aug. 26 – Tues., Aug. 29).
Nightly News continues as the #1 most-watched evening newscast season-to-date in the key demo, delivering its largest demo lead over CBS in three seasons.
Due to the Labor Day holiday, Nightly News was rated from Monday, Aug. 28 – Thursday, Aug. 31.
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Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 2.1 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +310,000 viewers (+17%) and CBS by +741,000 (+55%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 for 63 consecutive weeks.
- Nightly News posted its largest key demo lead over ABC in 31 weeks and biggest margin over CBS in 54 weeks.
- Nightly News’ A25-54 viewership was up the most week-over-week compared to the competition, reaching 29-week highs.
- Nightly News averaged 1.5 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +219,000 (+17%) and CBS by +577,000 (+63%).
- Among A18-49 viewers, Nightly News has won 108 of the last 109 weeks.
- Nightly News’ A18-49 viewership reached 29-week highs.
- Nightly News averaged 8.5 million total viewers, besting ABC by +4,000 viewers (+0.04%) and CBS by +2.3 million (+37%).
- Nightly News reached a 27-week high in total viewers.
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 28 – September 1, 2017:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 8.516 | 1.74 | 2.101 | 1.16 | 1.493 |
| CBS | 6.203 | 1.13 | 1.360 | 0.71 | 0.916 |
| ABC | 8.512 | 1.48 | 1.791 | 0.99 | 1.274 |
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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
