#1 Most-Watched Broadcast in Total Viewers and All Demos Last Week
#1 in Key Demo for 40 of the last 41 Months
#1 in A18-49 for 41 of the last 43 Months
NOVEMBER 28, 2018 – NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is the #1 most-watched broadcast across the board for the week of November 19. The broadcast is also #1 in the key demo for the month of November, winning 40 of the last 41 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 seven seasons.
9.2 million total viewers tuned in to Nightly News for the week of November 19, growing week-over-week and besting ABC World News Tonight by +284,000 total viewers (+3%) and CBS Evening News by +2.7 million total viewers (+42%). Nightly News hit a 41 week high in total viewers and posted its largest lead over ABC in a year (since November 20, 2017).
The broadcast averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, topping ABC World News Tonight by +96,000 viewers (+5%) and CBS Evening News by +568,000 viewers (+43%). Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC World News Tonight by +115,000 viewers (+10%) and CBS Evening News by +370,000 viewers (+39%).
Last Friday, Nightly News kicked off NBC News’ investigation into medical device dangers with a report on 2017 study that found roughly half of U.S. doctors receive payments from pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Earlier last month, Holt was voted the most trusted news anchor in America by an all-new Morning Consult/Hollywood Reporter survey. He also anchored the broadcast from Thousand Oaks, Calif. in the wake of the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill and from Pacific Palisades to report on the wildfires raging across the state.
For the month of November, the broadcast continues its strong performance in the key demo averaging 1.9 million A25-54 viewers this past month, beating ABC World News Tonight by +76,000 viewers (+4%) and CBS Evening News by +601,000 viewers (+46%).
Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +72,000 viewers (+6%) and CBS by +395,000 viewers (+43%). The broadcast has won the A18-49 demo for 41 of the past 43 months.
8.6 million viewers tuned in to Nightly News for the month of November 2018, +2.3 million total viewers (+37%) more than CBS Evening News, its largest advantage in six years. Nightly News was the only broadcast to grow in total monthly viewers year-over-year and cut its month-over-month and year-over-year margin against ABC in half.
For the week of November 19, Nightly News rated for three nights (Nov. 19, Nov. 20, and Nov. 23) due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
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Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News won the week across the board.
- Nightly News averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +96,000 viewers (+5%) and CBS by +568,000 (+43%).
- Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, beating ABC by 115,000 (+10%) and topping CBS by +370,000 (+39%).
- Nightly News averaged 9.2 million total viewers, beating ABC by +284,000 (+3%) CBS by +2.7 million (+42%).
- Nightly News hit a 41 week high in total viewers and posted its largest lead over ABC in a year (since November 20, 2017).
Monthly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +76,000 (+4%) CBS by +601,000 (+46%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 for 40 of the last 41 months.
- Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +72,000 (+6%) and CBS by +395,000 (+43%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A18-49 for 41 of the last 43 months.
- Nightly News averaged 8.6 million viewers in November, besting CBS by +2.3 million (+37%).
- Nightly News posted its highest key demo advantage over CBS in six years.
Nightly News was the only broadcast to grow in total monthly viewers year-over-year and cut its month-over-month and year-over-year margin against ABC in half.
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 November 19 – November 23, 2018:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 9.170 | 1.57 | 1.888 | 1.03 | 1.323 |
| CBS | 6.469 | 1.09 | 1.320 | 0.74 | 0.953 |
| ABC | 8.886 | 1.49 | 1.792 | 0.94 | 1.208 |
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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
