#1 Most Watched Season-to-Date in Key Demo
Broadcast Grows Week-Over-Week Across The Board
AUGUST 7, 2018 – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” is the #1 most-watched evening broadcast in the key news demo for the week of July 30, according to Nielsen Media Research data. “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 six seasons.
The broadcast continues its strong performance in the key demo, growing week-over-week and averaging 1.6 million A25-54 viewers. The broadcast bested “ABC World News Tonight” by +62,000 viewers (+4%) and “CBS Evening News” by +498,000 viewers (+46%). “Nightly News” was the only broadcast to grow week-over-week across the board.
As part of his ongoing reporting on criminal justice reform, last week Holt spoke with Eric Riddick, a prisoner in Philadelphia serving a life sentence for a crime many believe he did not commit. Holt was introduced to Riddick’s story by rapper Meek Mill, who met Riddick during his time in the same prison. Mill spoke exclusively to Holt about his own struggles with the criminal justice system earlier this summer.
For the week of July 30, “Nightly News” is the most-watched broadcast among A18-49 viewers, averaging 1.1 million and topping ABC by +11,000 viewers (+1%) and CBS by +280,000 viewers (+36%).
7.4 million total viewers tuned in to “Nightly News” for the week of July 30, leading “CBS Evening News” by 1.8 million total viewers (+33%).
For the week of July 30, “Nightly News” rated for four nights (July 30, July 31, Aug. 1, Aug. 3) due to NFL pre-season football.
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Weekly Highlights:
- “Nightly News” averaged 1.6 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +62,000 viewers (+4%) and CBS by +498,000 (+46%).
- “Nightly News” averaged 1.1 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +11,000 (+1%) and CBS by +280,000 (+36%).
- “Nightly News” was the only broadcast to grow week-over-week across the board.
- “Nightly News” averaged 7.4 million total viewers, beating CBS by +1.8 million (+33%).
Season Highlights:
- “Nightly News” is the #1 evening newscast this season in A25-54 and A18-49.
- “Nightly News” holds its largest A25-54 demo advantage over CBS in six seasons.
Week of July 30 – August 3, 2018:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 7.362 | 1.30 | 1.570 | 0.82 | 1.054 |
| CBS | 5.534 | 0.89 | 1.072 | 0.60 | 0.774 |
| ABC | 7.847 | 1.25 | 1.508 | 0.81 | 1.043 |
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ABOUT NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH LESTER HOLT
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is the most-watched evening newscast in America, providing the very latest on the day’s top stories and going beyond the headlines to add context and analysis to the most pressing issues of our times. NBC Nightly News reaches more than 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 Jenn Suozzo is the executive producer.
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For more information contact:
TJ Ducklo
NBC News
212-664-1913
Rachel Zuckerman
NBC News
212-664-3996
