ABC’s “Nightline” Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54

Season to Date, “Nightline” Ranks No. 1 in Late-Night Among Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, Ahead of Both NBC’s “The Tonight Show” and CBS’ “The Late Show”

“Nightline” is Showing its Best Competitive Start to a Season in 16 Years

For the week of September 26, 2011, ABC’s “Nightline” ranked No. 1 for the 2nd time in as many weeks of the new season in Total Viewers (3.856 million) and Adults 25-54 (1.517 million) , according to Nielsen Media Research.   The ABC latenight program built on its premiere week performance in Total Viewers (3.850 million – w/o 9/19/11) to post its largest overall audience in 5 weeks – since w/o 8/22/11.

For the 2nd time this season and for the 4th week in a row, “Nightline” improved on the year-ago week in Total Viewers (+3%) .  Both NBC’s “The Tonight Show” and CBS’ “The Late Show” were both down by -8% year to year.

Season to date, “Nightline” ranks No. 1 in late-night among Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, ahead of both NBC’s “The Tonight Show” and CBS’ “The Late Show” (“Letterman” began on CBS in the 1993-94 season).  This represents “Nightline’s” best competitive start to a season in 16 years - since the 1995-96 season.  Season to date, “Nightline” is up by +4% in Total Viewers compared to the same point last year, standing as the only program to grow year to year in Total Viewers versus “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show.”    

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 September 26, 2011)

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

ABC ”Nightline”       3,856,000     1,517,000/ 1.3    1,135,000/ 0.9

CBS “Late Show”       3,273,000     1,461,000/ 1.2    1,152,000/ 0.9

NBC “Tonight Show”    3,538,000     1,421,000/ 1.2    1,097,000/ 0.9

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 09/26/11, 9/19/11 & 9/27/10.  Most Current: 2011-2012 Season (9/19 – 10/2/11) and 2010-2011 Season (9/20 – 10/3/10).