Ratings Report: ABC News Programming For the Week of October 24—October 28, 2011

“GMA” Posts Strongest Total Viewer and Demo Numbers in 5 Months

For the 6 th Consecutive Week, “GMA” Substantially Cuts Year-to-Year Total Viewing  and Demo Gaps with “Today”

“GMA” Narrows Season-to-Date Total Viewing Gap by -50% with “Today”

 ”GMA” Only Morning Show to Increase in Demo Season-to-Date and Year-to-Year; and Grows the Most in Total Viewers Versus the Competitors

ABC News’ “Good Morning America” hit season highs in both Total Viewers (4.843 million) and Adults 25-54 (1.6/12/1.950 million) for the week of October 24, 2011.  Building on the previous week for the 3rd week in a row, “GMA” turned in its strongest numbers in 5 months – since w/o 5/23/11. 

For the 6th time in as many weeks of the season, “GMA” built on the year-earlier week in both Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 25-54 (+11%). “GMA” grew the most year to year in viewers and was the only morning news program to grow in the key adult news demo (NBC’s “Today” was up +1% and down -6%, respectively; CBS’ “Early Show” was down -10% and -11%, respectively).

On Wednesday (10/26/11), “Good Morning America” scored its most-watched telecast (5.015 million) in 5 months - since 5/26/11.  

For the 6th week in a row this season, “GMA” substantially decreased its gaps with “Today” compared to the same week last year in both Total Viewers (-41% – 525,000 vs. 889,000) and Adults 25-54 (-42% – 479,000 vs. 823,000) Season to date, “GMA” narrowed its gaps in both Total Viewers (-50%) and Adults 25-54 (-37%) versus its year-ago season gaps for the 2nd year in a row, posting its smallest margins (457,000 and 489,000, respectively) with “Today” in 4 years – since the 2007-08 season.

“GMA” outperformed CBS’ “Early Show” by 2.296 million Total Viewers (4.843 million vs. 2.547 million) and by 853,000 Adults 25-54 (1.950 million vs. 1.097 million) .

Season to date “GMA” is up the most among the network morning news programs in Total Viewers (+13%), and is the only morning program to grow in Adults 25-54 (+13%) vs. year-ago averages (NBC’s “Today” is up +2% and down -3%, respectively; CBS’ “Early Show” is down -6% and -8%, respectively). “GMA” is seeing its largest overall season audience in 4 years – since the 2007-08 season.

Emmy Award-winning “GMA,” featuring the anchor team of Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion, Lara Spencer and Josh Elliott, airs live Mon.-Fri. (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) on ABC. James Goldston is senior executive producer and Tom Cibrowski is executive producer.

 

Week of 10/24/11       Total Viewers      Adults 25-54               Households

ABC                           4,843,000             1.6/12; 1,950,000        3.6/14

NBC                           5,368,000             2.0/14; 2,429,000        4.0/15

CBS                            2,547,000             0.9/ 6; 1,097,000         1.9/ 7

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 10/23/11, 10/17/11 & 10/25/10.  Most Current: 2011-2012 Season (9/19 – 10/30/11) and 2010-2011 Season (9/20 – 10/31/10).