#1 in Key Demo for 19 Straight Weeks
#1 Most Watched Season to Date in Key Demo
#1 in A18-49 for 15 of the Last 16 Weeks
DECEMBER 11, 2018 – NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is the #1 most-watched evening broadcast in the key news demo for the week of December 3, 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 five seasons.
The broadcast continues its strong performance in the key demo averaging 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, besting ABC World News Tonight by +64,000 viewers (+4%) and CBS Evening News by +561,000 viewers (+43%). Nightly News has won the key demo for 19 consecutive weeks.
On Saturday, Holt received Poynter Institute’s Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism at its annual Bowtie Ball in St. Petersburg, Florida. Last week, Holt led NBC News’ coverage of the events honoring President George H.W. Bush, alongside Savannah Guthrie. Holt anchored NBC Nightly News from Washington D.C. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night.
For the week of December 3, Nightly News averaged 1.2 million A18-49 viewers topping ABC by +59,000 (+5%) and CBS by +339,000 viewers (+37%). Nightly News has won A18-49 for 15 of the past 16 weeks.
Nightly News averaged 8.6 million total viewers for the week of December 3 leading CBS Evening News by 2.2 million total viewers (+35%). Year-over-year, Nightly News cut the total viewer margin against ABC in half.
Follow Nightly News on Twitter and on Facebook for the latest.
# # #
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +64,000 viewers (+4%) and CBS by +561,000 (+43%).
- Nightly News has won the key demo for 19 consecutive weeks.
- Nightly News averaged 1.2 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +59,000 viewers (+5%) CBS by +339,000 (+37%).
- Nightly News has won A18-49 for 15 of the past 16 weeks.
- Nightly News averaged 8.6 million total viewers, beating CBS by +2.2 million (+35%).
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 five seasons.
Week of December 3 – December 7, 2018:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 8.568 | 1.54 | 1.855 | 0.97 | 1.245 |
| CBS | 6.345 | 1.07 | 1.294 | 0.70 | 0.906 |
| ABC | 8.863 | 1.48 | 1.791 | 0.92 | 1.186 |
# # #
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.
# # #
For more information contact:
TJ Ducklo
NBC News
212-664-1913
Rachel Zuckerman
NBC News
212-664-3996
