Ratings Report for ABC News’ “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”

For Sunday, May 31, 2009

FOR THE 18TH STRAIGHT WEEK “THIS WEEK” CLOSES TOTAL VIEWING GAP WITH “MEET THE PRESS” WITH ONLY 190,000 TOTAL VIEWERS SEPARATING THE TWO SHOWS

“THIS WEEK” CUTS TOTAL VIEWING GAP WITH “MEET” BY 87%
AND DEMO GAP BY 73% VS. LAST YEAR

For the 18th consecutive week, “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” cut into NBC’s “Meet the Press’” total viewing lead – this time by 1.3 million total viewers according to Nielsen Media Research.  On Sunday, May 31, “This Week” closed the total viewing gap with “Meet” by 87% (190,000 in 2009 vs. 1,470,000 in 2008) versus the same weeks last year.  In the Adults 25-54 demographic, ABC closed the gap with NBC by 73% (130,000 in 2009 vs. 480,000 in 2008). 

Versus the prior Sunday, which fell during the Memorial Day weekend, “This Week” was the only program to experience gains among both total viewers (+4%) and Adults 25-54 (+7%).  NBC fell -10% in total viewers and -4% in A25-54, while CBS’ “Face the Nation” declined -6% in total viewers and -3% in the demo.  Also versus the prior week, “This Week” closed the total viewing gap with “Meet” by 67% and the demo gap by 41%. 

Season-to-date, “This Week” continues to dominate the second place position among total viewers and A25-54 and experience the most growth among total viewers compared to the other Sunday shows versus last year.  Averaging 3.21 million Total Viewers, the ABC show versus last year is up 17% and +9% in the demo with 1.10 million Adults 25-54.

Year-to-date, “This Week” continues to cut the total viewing and demo gaps with “Meet” as well.  Among Total Viewers for 2009 so far, “This Week” has closed the gap with “Meet” by 51% (660,000 in 2009 vs. 1,350,000 in 2008) compared to last year.   In Adults 25-54, the gap has been cut by 30% versus the same time period last year (300,000 in 2009 vs. 430,000 in 2008). 

“This Week” was rescheduled or preempted in 10 markets due to coverage of the Children’s Miracle Marathon. 

  George Stephanopoulos is the anchor of “This Week” and Ian Cameron is the executive producer. The program airs Sundays on the ABC Television Network.

(Week of May 25, 2009)
                           TOTAL VIEWERS       A25-54 MM/Rtg
ABC “THIS WEEK”            2,430,000      770,000/.6
NBC “MEET THE PRESS”       2,620,000      900,000/.7
CBS “FACE THE NATION”      2,490,000      850,000/.7   
FOX “FOX NEWS SUNDAY”      1,140,000      410,000/.3

Source: NTI

– ABC –