Nightly News is #1 Across the Board This Season
The NBC News Broadcast Wins 23rd Consecutive Month in the Demo
Nightly News Delivers Biggest Weekly Total Viewer Win in Four Months
NEW YORK (May 31, 2017) – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” ranked #1 across the board for the week of May 22, averaging 7.8 million total viewers, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +265,000 viewers (+4%) and “CBS Evening News” by +1.6 million viewers (+25%). Nightly News had its widest total viewer margin over ABC in over four months (week of January 23, 2017) and posted the biggest gain in total viewers from the previous week (+384,000). Compared to the same week last season, Nightly News was the only broadcast to see an increase in total viewers (up +40,000).
The NBC News broadcast ranked #1 in the demo for the week, averaging 1.8 million A25-54 viewers, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +204,000 viewers (+13%) and “CBS Evening News” by +484,000 viewers (+37%). Nightly posted its best A25-54 audience in eight weeks (week of March 27, 2017) and grew +4% (+65,000 viewers) in the A25-54 demo.
For the week, Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +195,000 viewers (+18%) and CBS by +368,000 viewers (+40%). The NBC News broadcast has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 95 of the last 96 weeks.
Nightly News also won the month of May across the board, averaging 7.6 million total viewers, +18,000 more than ABC and +1.5 million (+24%) more than CBS. In the A25-54 demo, Nightly News averaged 1.7 million viewers, leading ABC by +12% (+186,000) and CBS by +32% (+422,000), earning Nightly News its biggest May win over the competition since 2013. The NBC News broadcast averaged 1.2 million A18-49 viewers, +17% (+177,000) over ABC and +37% (+336,000) higher than CBS.
Nightly News ranks as the #1 evening newscast across the board this season. The NBC News broadcast holds its largest A25-54 advantage over ABC in four seasons and over CBS in three seasons.
Week of May 22 numbers are based on four-day averages for NBC and CBS, as both were retitled on Friday. ABC numbers are based on five-day averages.
Weekly Highlights:
- Nightly News ranked #1 across the board, averaging 7.8 million total viewers, leading “ABC World News Tonight” by +265,000 viewers (+4%) and “CBS Evening News” by +1.6 million viewers (+25%).
- This was Nightly News’ biggest total viewer delivery since the week of April 17, 2017.
- Nightly News averaged 1.8 million A25-54 viewers, outperforming ABC by +204,000 (+13%) and CBS by +484,000 (+37%).
- Nightly News posted its best A25-54 audience in eight weeks (week of March 27, 2017).
- Week to week, Nightly News added +65,000 (+4%) A25-54 viewers and improved its demo advantages over ABC by +20% (+204,000 vs. +170,000 prior week) and CBS by +35% (+484,000 vs. +359,000 prior week).
- Nightly News averaged 1.3 million A18-49 viewers, topping ABC by +195,000 (+18%) and CBS by +368,000 (+40%).
- Nightly News delivered its highest A18-49 average since the week of March 20, 2017 (nine weeks).
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A25-54 and A18-49 for 95 of the past 96 weeks.
Monthly Highlights;
- Nightly News averaged 7.6 million total viewers, +18,000 (+0.2%) more than ABC and +1.467 million (+24%) more than CBS.
- Nightly News ranked #1 in A25-54 for the 23rd consecutive month.
- Nightly News averaged 1.7 million A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +12% (+186,000) and CBS by +32% (+422,000).
- This was Nightly News’ biggest May monthly A25-54 wins over ABC and CBS since 2013.
- Versus May 2016, Nightly’s A25-54 lead over ABC was up +3% while its advantage over CBS improved by +16%.
- Nightly News has ranked #1 in A18-49 for 25 straight months and 115 of the last 116 months.
- Nightly News averaged 1.24 million A18-49 viewers, +17% (+177,000) over ABC and +37% (+336,000) higher than CBS.
- Best May monthly A25-54 advantage over ABC since 2013 and CBS since 2014.
- Versus May 2016, Nightly News improved its A18-49 lead over ABC by +57% and CBS by +11%.
Season Highlights:
- Nightly News is the #1 evening newscast across the board.
- Nightly News holds its largest A25-54 advantages over ABC in four seasons and over CBS in three seasons.
- Compared to last season, Nightly News’ demo lead over ABC and CBS is up +12%.
Week of May 22 – May 26, 2017:
| Total Viewers | A25-54 Rating | A25-54 Viewers | A18-49 Rating | A18-49 Viewers | |
| NBC | 7.793 | 1.48 | 1.780 | 1.01 | 1.294 |
| CBS | 6.235 | 1.08 | 1.296 | 0.72 | 0.926 |
| ABC | 7.528 | 1.31 | 1.576 | 0.86 | 1.099 |
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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
