#1 in Key Demo for 38 of the last 39 Months
#1 in A18-49 for 39 of the last 41 Months
Highest Key Demo Advantage Over ABC & CBS in Seven Months
OCTOBER 2, 2018 – NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is the #1 most-watched broadcast in the key demo for the month of September, winning 38 of the last 39 months, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Nightly News begins the 2018-2019 season having achieved the highest key demo advantage over the competition in seven months and was up the most across the board month-over-month.
The broadcast continues its strong performance in the key demo averaging 1.8 million A25-54 viewers this past month, beating ABC World News Tonight by +129,000 viewers (+8%) and CBS Evening News by +618,000 viewers (+53%).
Last Thursday, Nightly News was the only broadcast to air nationally following the testimonies of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Additionally this month, Holt spoke exclusively with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in New York ahead of the U.N. General Assembly. Holt also sat down with award-winning musician John Legend to discuss social activism and what drives him to give back. During Hurricane Florence, Holt anchored the broadcast three nights from the ground in North Carolina and anchored seven NBC News special reports joined by Al Roker.
In September, Nightly News averaged 1.2 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +85,000 viewers (+8%) – increasing its advantage six fold month-over-month – and CBS by +395,000 viewers (+48%). The broadcast has won the A18-49 demo for 39 of the past 41 months.
7.9 million viewers tuned in to Nightly News for the month of September 2018, +2.1 million total viewers (+37%) more than CBS Evening News, its largest advantage in seven years.
For the week of September 24, the broadcast averaged 1.8 million A25-54 viewers, growing week-over-week and besting ABC World News Tonight by +158,000 viewers (+10%) and CBS Evening News by +608,000 viewers (+53%).
Nightly News averaged 1.2 million A18-49 viewers, growing week-over-week topping ABC World News Tonight by +150,000 viewers (+14%) and CBS Evening News by +419,000 viewers (+53%).
7.6 million total viewers tuned in to Nightly News for the week of September 24, growing week-over-week and leading CBS Evening News by 2.0 million total viewers (+35%).
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Monthly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 1.8 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +129,000 (+8%) CBS by +618,000 (+53%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 for 38 of the last 39 months.
- Nightly News averaged 1.2 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +85,000 (+8%) – increasing its advantage six fold month-over-month – and CBS by +395,000 (+48%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A18-49 for 39 of the last 41 months.
- Nightly News averaged 7.9 million viewers in September, besting CBS by +2.1 million (+37%).
- Nightly News posted its highest key demo advantage over ABC & CBS in seven months
- Nightly News grew the most across the board month-over-month
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 1.8 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +158,000 viewers (+10%) and CBS by +608,000 (+53%).
- Nightly News averaged 1.2 million A18-49 viewers, beating ABC by 150,000 (+14%) and topping CBS by +419,000 (+53%).
- Nightly News averaged 7.6 million total viewers, beating CBS by +2.0 million (+35%).
- Nightly News was the only broadcast to grow week-over-week across the board
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 seven seasons.
Week of September 24 – September 28, 2018:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 7.625 | 1.45 | 1.754 | 0.94 | 1.211 |
| CBS | 5.646 | 0.95 | 1.146 | 0.61 | 0.792 |
| ABC | 8.228 | 1.32 | 1.596 | 0.82 | 1.061 |
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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 among the key news demo for the past 21 seasons. The broadcast provides the very latest on the day’s top stories, going beyond the headlines to add context and analysis to the most pressing issues of our time. 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
