Season to Date, “Nightline” Ranks First in Late-Night Among Total Viewers and Adults 25-54

Season to Date, “Nightline“ Ranks First in Late-Night Among Total Viewers and Adults 25-54

“Nightline“ is up by +6% in Total Viewers and by +4% in Adults 25-54 Compared to the Same Point Last Year

Season to Date, “Nightline“ is Drawing its Largest Overall Audience in 8 Years

For the week of August 8, 2011, ABC‘s “Nightline“ took second across all key target demos: Total Viewers (3.435 million), Adults 25-54 (1.326 million) and Adults 18-49 (967,000), according to Nielsen Media Research. 

“Nightline“ was up from the same week last year in Total Viewers (+3%), standing as the only latenight program to grow versus the year-ago week in overall viewers compared to NBC’s “The Tonight Show” (-5%) and CBS’ “The Late Show” (-9%).  The ABC program improved on its year to year Total Viewer audience for the 8th straight week.  Further, “Nightline” grew its overall audience over the year-ago week in 24 of the last 26 weeks.

Season to date, “Nightline“ ranks first in late-night among Total Viewers and Adults 25-54.  This is the first time ever that “Nightline” has been in first place at this point in the season in Adults 25-54 since at least the 1993-94 season, when “Letterman” began on CBS.  In addition, “Nightline” is up by +6% in Total Viewers and by +4% in Adults 25-54 compared to the same point last year, standing as the only program to grow year to year in Adults 25-54 versus “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show.”  Season to date, “Nightline“ is drawing its largest overall audience in 8 years - since the 2002-03 season.

ABC News’ “Nightline” is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Bill Weir. John Donvan and Juju Chang are correspondents. Jeanmarie Condon is the Executive Producer. The program airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network.

(Week of August 8, 2011)

                    TOTAL VIEWERS  A25-54(000)/ Rtg  A18-49(000)/ Rtg 

ABC “Nightline“       3,435,000     1,326,000/ 1.1     967,000/ 0.7

CBS “Late Show”       2,470,000     1,036,000/ 0.8     813,000/ 0.6

NBC “Tonight Show”    3,609,000     1,351,000/ 1.1   1,080,000/ 0.8

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 08/8/11, 8/1/11 & 8/9/10.  2010-2011 Broadcast Season (9/20/10 – 8/14/11) and 2009-2010 Broadcast Season (9/21/09 – 8/15/10).   

– ABC –