Nightly News Up +44% over ABC in the Demo for August 2016, Winning its 14th Consecutive Month
Nightly News Wins across the Board for Seventh Consecutive Week
NEW YORK (August 30, 2016) – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” ranked #1 across the board for the week of August 22, averaging 7.84 million total viewers, +124,000 (+2%) higher than “ABC World News Tonight” and +1.475 million (+23%) more than “CBS Evening News.”
Nightly News ranked #1 across the board during the month of August, averaging 9.074 million total viewers, leading ABC by +1.283 million viewers, (+17%). This was Nightly News’s biggest monthly total viewer lead over the competition since March 2014. The NBC News broadcast has won 13 of the 14 months across the board since Lester Holt became anchor.
The NBC News broadcast continues its dominance in the demo, winning the week and the 14th consecutive month among A25-54. For the month of August 2016, Nightly News averaged 2.439 million A25-54 viewers, +44% (+750,000) over ABC, its biggest victory in the demo since August 2012. For the week of August 22, Nightly News averaged 1.987 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +286,000 (+17%) and CBS by +513,000 (+35%).
Among A18-49 viewers, Nightly News won the week and 16th consecutive month. In August 2016, Nightly News delivered 1.837 million A18-49 viewers, leading ABC by +616,000 (+50%). Nightly News had its best A18-49 monthly delivery since February 2014 and widest advantages over the competition since August 2012. Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 56 of the past 57 weeks.
Due to NFL preseason games, NBC Nightly News was retitled on Thursday and CBS Evening News was retitled on Friday.
Season to date, Nightly News is the #1 evening news program in total viewers, A25-54 and A18-49 viewers.
Monthly Highlights:
- Nightly News ranked #1 across the board during the month of August, averaging 9.074 million total viewers (+1.283 million, +17% over ABC), 2.439 million A25-54 viewers (+750,000, +44% over ABC), and 1.837 million A18-49 viewers (+616,000, or +50% over ABC).
- This was Nightly News’s biggest monthly total viewer lead over the competition since March 2014.
- Nightly News has won 13 of the 14 months across the board since Lester Holt became anchor.
- Nightly News posted its biggest monthly A25-54 victory over the competition since August 2012. Nightly News has won 14 consecutive months in the key demo.
- Nightly News had its best A18-49 monthly delivery since February 2014 and widest advantages over the competition since August 2012.
- Nightly News has won 16 consecutive months and 106 of the last 107 months among A18-49 viewers.
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 7.839 million total viewers, leading ABC by +124,000 (+2%) and CBS by +1.475 million (+23%).
- Nightly News has won seven consecutive weeks and nine of the last 11 weeks among total viewers.
- Nightly News averaged 1.987 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +286,000 (+17%) and CBS by +513,000 (+35%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 56 of the past 57 weeks.
- Nightly News averaged 1.429 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +193,000 (+16%) and CBS by +406,000 (+40%).
Season to Date:
- Season to date, Nightly News is the #1 evening news program in total viewers, A25-54 viewers, and A18-49 viewers.
- Nightly News averages 8.613 million total viewers, +282,000 (+3%) ahead of ABC and +1.565 million (+22%) more than CBS.
- Nightly News averages 2.106 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +242,000 (+13%) and CBS by +480,000 (+30%).
- Nightly News has added the most A25-54 viewers versus last season (+41,000, +2%).
- Nightly News has improved its A25-54 lead over ABC by 219,000 viewers (+242,000 lead this season vs. +23,000 this time last year).
- Nightly News averages 1.520 million A18-49 viewers, outperforming ABC by +208,000 (+16%) and CBS by +413,000 (+37%)
- Nightly News has more than doubled its A18-49 advantage over ABC versus last season (119%, vs. a +95,000 lead last season).
Week of August 22 – August 26, 2016:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 7.839 | 1.67 | 1.987 | 1.13 | 1.429 |
| CBS | 6.364 | 1.24 | 1.474 | 0.81 | 1.022 |
| ABC | 7.715 | 1.43 | 1.701 | 0.97 | 1.236 |
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ABOUT NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH LESTER HOLT
“NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” is America’s most-watched evening newscast, going beyond the day’s headlines to uncover stories of how people’s lives are affected by the world around them. “NBC Nightly News” reaches over 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 Sam Singal is the executive producer.
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For more information contact:
Jake Urbanski
NBC News
212-664-3211
