“DATELINE NBC” FINISHES 2017 AS THE #1 FRIDAY NEWSMAGAZINE ACROSS-THE-BOARD FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
‘Dateline’ Posts Its Best Ever A18-49 Year-End Advantages over ABC’s ‘20/20’; Best A25-54 Advantage in 14 Years
Broadcast is #1 in All Categories for 4Q 2017, with Biggest Total Viewer Advantages over ‘20/20’ in 15 Years
Grows in Total Viewership and Every Key Demo vs. 3Q While ‘20/20’ Declines by Double Digits
January 3, 2018 – “Dateline NBC” closed out 2017 as the #1-ranked newsmagazine across-the-board on Fridays, averaging 4.6 million total viewers while outperforming ABC’s “20/20” by +987,000 viewers (+27%). This marks “Dateline’s” first back-to-back wins since 2003, improving its lead over “20/20” by +625,000 (+173%) viewers vs. the prior year.
Among the A25-54 news demo for the year, “Dateline” averaged 1.5 million viewers, +257,000 (+21%) more than ABC, marking its best A25-54 viewer lead over “20/20” in 14 years. Among A18-49 viewers, “Dateline” averaged 1.1 million viewers, +212,000 (+23%) ahead of ABC, posting its best A18-49 viewer advantage over “20/20” ever.
For the fourth quarter of 2017, “Dateline” also finished as the #1 newsmagazine across-the-board on Friday nights, continuing to post its biggest total viewer advantages over ABC’s “20/20” in 15 years. This also marks “Dateline’s” third consecutive win across-the-board for the broadcast quarter, its best winning streak since the 2003 broadcast season. “Dateline” also grew in every key demo and total viewership vs. 3Q’16, while “20/20” declined by double digits.
During 4Q’17, “Dateline” averaged 5.0 million viewers, 78% higher than “20/20” which averaged 2.8 million viewers. Dateline also tripled its total viewer advantage over 20/20 compared to 4Q’16. With the key younger demographics, “Dateline” continued to outperform ABC’s “20/20.” Among A25-54, “Dateline” averaged 1.6 million viewers, +626,000 (+67%) higher than “20/20.” Among A18-49, “Dateline” averaged 1.2 million total viewers, topping “20/20” by +462,000 (+67%).
2017 Highlights:
- “Dateline” ranked as the #1 Friday newsmagazine across the board in 2017 for the second consecutive year.
- “Dateline’s” first back-to-back wins since the 2003 broadcast year.
- “Dateline” averaged 4.6 million total viewers, outperforming “20/20” by +987,000 (+27%).
- “Dateline” averaged 1.5 million A25-54 viewers, +257,000 (+21%) ahead of “20/20.”
- Among A18-49 viewers, “Dateline” averaged 1.1 million viewers, +212,000 ahead of ABC (+23%), postings it best yearly A18-49 viewer advantage over “20/20” ever.
4Q 2017/Season-to-Date Highlights:
- “Dateline” was the #1 Friday newsmagazine across the board.
- The broadcast posted its biggest quarterly total viewer lead over ABC in 15 Years.
- “Dateline” averaged 5.0 million viewers, leading “20/20” by 2.2 million viewers (+78%).
- Among A25-54, “Dateline” averaged 1.6 million viewers, +626,000 (+67%) higher than “20/20.”
- Among A18-49, “Dateline” averaged 1.2 million total viewers, topping “20/20” by +462,000 (+67%).
- This marks “Dateline’s” third consecutive win across-the-board for the broadcast quarter, its best streak since the 2003 broadcast season.
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ABOUT “DATELINE”
“Dateline” is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history. In its 26th season, “Dateline” is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy. Airing Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/9 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 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Dominique Cuce
NBC News
212-664-6192
dominique.cuce@nbcuni.com
