#1 Most Watched Season-to-Date in Key Demo
#1 in Key Demo for 37 of the last 38 Months
#1 in A18-49 for 38 of the last 40 Months
AUGUST 28, 2018 – NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is the #1 most-watched broadcast in the key demo for the month of August, winning 37 of the last 38 months, 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 averaging 1.6 million A25-54 viewers this past month, beating ABC World News Tonight by +67,000 viewers (+4%) and CBS Evening News by +513,000 viewers (+47%).
Last week, Holt spoke exclusively with the widow of Air Force Tech Sergeant John Chapman, whose late husband became the first airman since the Vietnam War to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
In August, Nightly News averaged 1.1 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +15,000 viewers (+1%) and CBS by +307,000 viewers (+40%). The broadcast has won the A18-49 demo for 38 of the past 40 months.
7.4 million viewers tuned in to Nightly News for the month of August 2018, +1.8 million total viewers (+33%) more than CBS Evening News.
For the week of August 20, the broadcast averaged 1.6 million A25-54 viewers, growing week-over-week and besting ABC World News Tonight by +24,000 viewers (+1%) and CBS Evening News by +507,000 viewers (+44%).
Nightly News averaged 1.1 million A18-49 viewers, growing week-over-week topping ABC World News Tonight by +12,000 viewers (+1%) and CBS Evening News by +304,000 viewers (+38%).
7.4 million total viewers tuned in to Nightly News for the week of August 20, growing week-over-week and leading CBS Evening News by 1.8 million total viewers (+31%).
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Monthly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 1.6 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +67,000 (+4%) CBS by +513,000 (+47%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 for 37 of the last 38 months.
- Nightly News averaged 1.1 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +15,000 (+1%) CBS by +307,000 (+40%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A18-49 for 38 of the last 40 months.
- Nightly News averaged 7.4 million viewers in May, besting CBS by +1.8 million (+33%).
- Nightly News grew across the board month-over-month.
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 1.6 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +24,000 viewers (+1%) and CBS by +507,000 (+44%).
- Nightly News averaged 1.1 million A18-49 viewers, beating ABC by 12,000 (+1%) and topping CBS by +304,000 (+38%).
- Nightly News averaged 7.4 million total viewers, beating CBS by +1.8 million (+31%).
- Nightly News grew across the board week-over-week.
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 August 20 – August 24, 2018:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 7.438 | 1.36 | 1.647 | 0.86 | 1.110 |
| CBS | 5.662 | 0.94 | 1.140 | 0.63 | 0.806 |
| ABC | 8.039 | 1.35 | 1.623 | 0.85 | 1.098 |
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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
