Outperforms Competition by Double-Digits in Demo Most Valued by News Advertisers
Ranks #1 in A18-49 for 109 of Last 110 Weeks
Grows Year Over Year in Total Viewers
Holt Honored with RTDNA Lifetime Achievement While on Ground for Irma Coverage
NEW YORK (September 14, 2017) – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” won the key demo for the week of September 4, marking its 64th straight week as the #1 most-watched evening broadcast.
The broadcast continues its winning streak in the demo most valued by news advertisers averaging 2.2 million A25-54 viewers, beating “ABC World News Tonight” by +222,000 viewers (+11%) and “CBS Evening News” by +737,000 viewers (+49%). Nightly News also grew year over year by 15 percent in the A25-54 demo, reaching a 31-week high.
For the week, Nightly News averaged 1.6 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +221,000 viewers (+16%) and CBS by +607,000 viewers (+61%). Among A18-49 viewers, Nightly News has won 109 of the last 110 weeks and reached a 31-week high.
8.7 million total viewers tuned in to Nightly News for the week of September 4, marking its largest audience in 30 weeks. Nightly News bested “CBS Evening News” by +2.0 million total viewers (+30%).
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.
Last week was the second time in two consecutive weeks that Holt anchored the broadcast out of the studio, anchoring five consecutive Nightly News broadcasts live (Thurs., Sept. 7 – Mon., Sept. 11) from various Florida cities and co-anchoring a special edition of “TODAY” on Sunday, Sept. 10 to cover Hurricane Irma. Holt also anchored and contributed to the network’s 12 special reports on the storm. On Friday night, he was recognized for a lifetime of achievement and service to the profession of electronic journalism by the Radio Television Digital News Association.
Due to the Labor Day holiday and the 2017 NFL Kickoff Game, Nightly News was rated three days last week (Tuesday, Sept. 5, Wednesday, Sept. 6 and Friday, Sept. 8.).
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Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 2.2 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +222,000 viewers (+11%) and CBS by +737,000 (+49%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 for 64 consecutive weeks.
- Nightly News posted its largest key demo audience in 31 weeks.
- Nightly News averaged 1.6 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +221,000 (+16%) and CBS by +607,000 (+61%).
- Among A18-49 viewers, Nightly News has won 109 of the last 110 weeks.
- Nightly News’ A18-49 viewership reached 31-week highs.
- Nightly News averaged 8.7 million total viewers, besting CBS by +2.0 million (+30%).
- Nightly News reached a 30-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 September 4 – September 8, 2017:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 8.741 | 1.85 | 2.228 | 1.25 | 1.608 |
| CBS | 6.748 | 1.24 | 1.491 | 0.78 | 1.001 |
| ABC | 8.971 | 1.66 | 2.006 | 1.08 | 1.387 |
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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
