APRIL 3, 2018 – “Meet the Press with Chuck Todd” (MTP) wins the first quarter of 2018 (Q1’18) across the board as the #1 most-watched Sunday show, according to Nielsen Media Research data, now #1 for three of the last five quarters across the board.
Averaging 3.811 million total viewers for 1Q’18, MTP beat ABC’s “This Week” by +23 percent (+704,000) and CBS’ “Face the Nation” by eight percent (+295,000). Compared to last year, MTP improved its advantage over CBS by +28 percent (+64,000) and ABC by +24 percent (+137,000) – its biggest first quarter advantages over ABC in six years and CBS in seven years.
The broadcast is delivering its best quarterly streak in the key A24-54 demo in almost five years (since Q2’13) and its biggest advantage over CBS in nine years (since 1Q’09). The network broadcast won among A25-54 viewers for its ninth consecutive quarter, topping its competition by double-digits with a delivery of 1.085 million viewers: +243,000 (+29 percent) more than ABC and +303,000 (+39 percent) more than CBS. It was the only show with an average of more than one million key demo viewers.
For the month of March, MTP was also the most-watched Sunday show across the board, winning its fourth straight month. 3.582 million total viewers tuned in in March, beating ABC by +22 percent (+657,000) and CBS by eight percent (+270,000). Year over year, MTP improved its advantage over ABC, posting its highest March advantage over the network in more than six years.
MTP continues to dominate the demo most valued by news advertisers, winning its sixth consecutive month with the key audience. 993,000 A25-54 viewers tuned in in March. MTP outperformed its competition by double-digits: +30 percent (+227,000) more than ABC and +29 percent (+225,000) more than CBS. March marks the sixth straight month MTP has beaten ABC and the 26th straight month MTP has beaten CBS in the key demo.
Season-to-date, MTP continues as the #1 most-watched Sunday broadcast, now marking its second consecutive year winning at this point in the season. The show is delivering its best lead over ABC and CBS in six years (since 2011-2012).
MTP was retitled this past Easter Sunday, April 1.
Tune into MSNBC’s “MTP Daily” weekdays at 5 p.m. for more, and follow the show on Facebook and on Twitter for the latest.
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For more information, contact:
Olivia Petersen
NBC News
o: (202) 885-4159
e: olivia.petersen@nbcuni.com
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NBC NEWS’ “MEET THE PRESS WITH CHUCK TODD”
“Meet the Press with Chuck Todd” is where newsmakers come to make news — setting the political agenda and spotlighting the impact Washington decision-making has on Americans across the country. It is the #1 most-watched Sunday public affairs show across the board for the 2016-2017 season, reaching more than three million viewers every Sunday and millions more through social, digital and on-demand platforms. “Meet the Press” brings its authority and influencer interviews to MSNBC with “MTP Daily” weekdays at 5 p.m. ET and to the “1947: The Meet the Press Podcast”. It’s the longest-running show in television history, having celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2017 with the launch of its first-ever film festival in collaboration with the American Film Institute this November. Chuck Todd is the political director of NBC News and the moderator of “Meet the Press“; John Reiss is the executive producer.