The NBC News Broadcast Ranks #1 Across the Board this Season
Nightly News Has Won Every Quarter in the Demo Since Lester Holt Took Over as Anchor
The NBC News Broadcast Wins the Week Across the Board
NEW YORK (March 28, 2017) – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” ranked #1 across the board in the first quarter of 2017, averaging 8.85 million total viewers, leading ABC by +46,000 and CBS by +1.6 million (+22%). The NBC News broadcast has won six of the last seven quarters across the board.
In the A25-54 demo, Nightly News averaged 2.1 million viewers for the quarter, leading ABC by +213,000 (+11%) and CBS by +523,000 (+33%). Nightly News has won seven consecutive quarters in the demo, leading in the A25-54 category for every quarter since Lester Holt took over as anchor. Compared to the first quarter of 2016, Nightly News improved its demo lead over the competition, rising an additional +2% over ABC and +21% over CBS.
Nightly News averaged 1.6 million A18-49 viewers for Q1 2017, topping ABC by +214,000 (+16%) and CBS by +447,000 (+40%). The NBC News broadcast has won seven consecutive quarters in the A18-49 demo.
For March 2017, Nightly News averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, +184,000 (+11%) more than ABC and +499,000 (+35%) more than CBS. The NBC News broadcast ranks #1 in A25-54 for 21 consecutive months.
For the week of March 20, Nightly News averaged 8 million total viewers, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +245,000 viewers (+3%) and “CBS Evening News” by +1.64 million viewers (+26%). This marked Nightly News’ largest total viewer win over ABC since the week after the presidential inauguration (January 23, 2017).
Nightly News continues its dominance in the demo, averaging 1.9 million A25-54 viewers for the week, leading ABC by +288,000 (+18%) and CBS by +512,000 (+37%). Among A18-49, Nightly News averaged 1.4 million viewers for the week, topping ABC by +279,000 (+25%) and CBS by +442,000 (+47%). The NBC News broadcast has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 86 of the last 87 weeks.
Nightly News ranks #1 across the board this season.
Q1 Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 8.85 million total viewers, leading ABC by +46,000 viewers and CBS by +1.6 million viewers (+22%).
- Nightly News averaged 2.1 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +213,000 (+11%) and CBS by +523,000 (+33%).
- Nightly News has been #1 in A25-54 for seven straight quarters and 33 of the last 36 quarters.
- Nightly News averaged 1.6 million A18-49 viewers, +214,000 (+16%) higher than ABC and +447,000 (+40%) better than CBS.
- Nightly News has been #1 in A18-49 for seven consecutive quarters and in 78 of the last 81 quarters.
March 2017 Highlights:
- Nightly News averaged 8.3 million total viewers, leading CBS by +1.6 million (+24%).
- Nightly News averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, +184,000 (+11%) more than ABC and +499,000 (+35%) more than CBS.
- Nightly News ranks #1 in A25-54 for 21 consecutive months.
- Compared to March 2016, Nightly News posted larger advantages over both ABC (+5%) and CBS (+26%)
- Nightly News had its biggest March win over ABC since 2013 and its best over CBS since 2012.
- Nightly News averaged 1.42 million A18-49 viewers, leading ABC by +194,000 (+16%) and CBS by +407,000 (+40%).
- Nightly News has won 23 consecutive months and 113 of the last 114 months among A18-9 viewers.
- Versus March 2016, Nightly News improved its leads over both ABC (+38%) and CBS (+21%).
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News ranked #1 across the board, averaging 8 million total viewers, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +245,000 viewers (+3%) and “CBS Evening News” by +1.64 million viewers (+26%).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 86 of the past 87 weeks.
- Nightly News averaged 1.9 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +288,000 (+18%) and CBS by +512,000 (+37%).
- Nightly News’ demo advantage over ABC hit an eight-week high.
- Nightly News averaged 1.4 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +279,000 (+25%) and CBS by + 442,000 (+47%).
Season Highlights:
- Nightly News ranks #1 across the board this season.
- Nightly News is showing its best A25-54 advantages over ABC and CBS in three years.
- Versus last season, Nightly News has increased its A25-54 lead over ABC by +19% and CBS by +14%.
Week of March 20 – March 24, 2017:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 7.999 | 1.58 | 1.898 | 1.07 | 1.375 |
| CBS | 6.361 | 1.15 | 1.386 | 0.73 | 0.933 |
| ABC | 7.754 | 1.34 | 1.610 | 0.85 | 1.096 |
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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
