“This Week” is #2 Among Total Viewers and Adults 25-54

“This Week” Closes the A25-54 Gap With “Meet” By 97% Year to Year and 83% Week to Week

For The 33rd Week, “This Week” Narrows Total Viewing Gap

With “Meet the Press”

On Sunday, October 18, 2009 ABC News “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” was the #2 Sunday morning discussion program among both total viewers (2.65 million) and the key Adults 25-54 demographic (820,000), according to Nielsen Media Research. Tying NBC’s “Meet the Press” in the rating with a .7, “This Week” improved the most week to week in the demo (+10,000), while both “Meet” (-140,000) and CBS’ “Face the Nation” declined (-50,000).

Once again, “This Week” cut into “Meet’s” total viewing and demographic leads versus the prior week and year to year.  Week to week, ABC narrowed the demo gap with NBC by 83% (30,000 on 10/18 vs. 180,000 on 10/11).  Versus the same week last year, “This Week” closed the demo gap by 97% (30,000 in 2009 vs. 1,130,000 in 2008) and the total viewing gap with “Meet” by 86% (370,000 in 2009 vs. 2,660,000 in 2008). This marks the 33rd week this year ABC has closed the total viewing gap with NBC. 

“This Week’s” exclusive guest last Sunday was White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod. The round table featured E.J. Dionne, Paul Krugman, Peggy Noonan, Jake Tapper, and George Will.

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

(Sunday, October 18, 2009)

  TOTAL VIEWERS    A25-54 MM/Rtg

ABC “THIS WEEK”   2,650,000   820,000/.7

NBC “MEET THE PRESS” 3,020,000   850,000/.7

CBS “FACE THE NATION”     2,230,000   650,000/.5

FOX “FOX NEWS SUNDAY”     1,300,000   510,000/.4 

Source: Nielsen Media Research NTI A25-54 & Total Viewers Wks. of 10/12/09, 10/5/09 & 10/13/08 Live +SD.