#1 in Key Demo for 20 Straight Weeks
#1 Most Watched Season to Date in Key Demo
#1 in A18-49 for 16 of the Last 17 Weeks
DECEMBER 18, 2018 – NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is the #1 most-watched evening broadcast in the key news demo for the week of December 10, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Nightly News continues as the #1 most-watched evening newscast season-to-date in the demo most valued by news advertisers, delivering its largest demo lead over CBS in five seasons.
The broadcast continues its strong performance in the key news demo averaging 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, besting CBS Evening News by +576,000 viewers (+45%). Nightly News is now #1 in the key demo for 20 consecutive weeks.
For the week of December 10, Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers topping ABC by +25,000 (+2%) and CBS by +342,000 viewers (+37%). Nightly News has won A18-49 for 16 of the past 17 weeks.
Nightly News averaged 8.6 million total viewers for the week of December 10 leading CBS Evening News by 2.2 million total viewers (+35%). Year-over-year, Nightly News cut the total viewer margin against ABC by 29%.
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Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming CBS by +576,000 (+45%).
- Nightly News is now #1 in the key demo for 20 consecutive weeks.
- Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +25,000 viewers (+2%) CBS by +342,000 (+37%).
- Nightly News has won A18-49 for 16 of the past 17 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 10 – December 14, 2018:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 8.563 | 1.54 | 1.861 | 0.98 | 1.263 |
| CBS | 6.357 | 1.07 | 1.285 | 0.71 | 0.921 |
| ABC | 8.874 | 1.54 | 1.861 | 0.96 | 1.238 |
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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
