“Nightline” Ranks No. 1 During the November 2011 Sweep in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the Second Year in a Row

“Nightline” Posted its Strongest Adults 18-49 lead over NBC’s “The Tonight Show” During a November Sweep in 18 Years and Largest Margin During Any Sweep in 16 Years

“Nightline” Ranks No. 1 in Late-Night for the Third Time in the Last Four Weeks Across All Key Demos

For the week of November 21, 2011, ABC’s “Nightline” ranked No. 1 in late-night for the 3rd time in the last 4 weeks across all key target demos: Total Viewers (5.499 million) , Adults 25-54 (2.057 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.635 million) according to Nielsen Media Research.  The ABC late-night program has taken the top spot in Adults 25-54 in all 10 weeks this season and in 9 of 10 weeks in Total Viewers. 

“Nightline” posted double-digit week-to-week increases across all target demos to hit season-highs:  Total Viewers (+38%), Adults 25-54 (+32%) and Adults 18-49 (+41%).  In fact, “Nightline” turned in its best numbers in all 3 measures in 3 years – since w/o 11/3/08, w/o 11/24/08 and w/o 11/24/08, respectively.

The ABC latenight program improved on the year-earlier week in Total Viewers (+12%), Adults 25-54 (+5%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).  Additionally, “Nightline” attracted is largest overall Thanksgiving-week audience in 13 years - since w/o 11/23/98.

Registering season-best numbers in Total Viewers (6.071 million) and Adults 25-54 (2.406 million), Tuesday’s broadcast (11/22/11) stood as “Nightline’s” strongest telecast 6 months – since 5/24/11.

“Nightline” led CBS’ “The Late Show” during the week by its largest Total Viewer margin (2.217 million) in over 8 years – since w/o 3/17/03.

Season to date for the 2nd straight year, “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).  Season to date, “Nightline” is up by +3% 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” (-3%) and “The Late Show”  (-7%).   

Note: “Nightline’s” weekly average is based on two days (Mon-Tue), “The Tonight Show’s” weekly average is based on three days (Mon – Wed) and “The Late Show’s” weekly average is based on three days (Mon- Wed). With Thanksgiving week, “Nightline” from Wednesday – Friday, “The Tonight Show” on Thursday and Friday, and “The Late Show” on Thursday and Friday were coded special and are excluded from the weekly average.  

November 2011 Sweep

ABC News’ “Nightline” ranked No. 1 during the November 2011 sweep in Total Viewers (4.117 million) , Adults 25-54 (1.619 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.259 million), according to Nielsen Media Research.  In fact, this stands as “Nightline’s” 3rd straight November to rank No. 1 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 and 2nd year in a row in Adults 25-54.    

“Nightline” was up by +2% in Total Viewers versus the November 2010 sweep, standing as the only latenight program to improve on the year-ago sweep in overall viewers, while NBC’s “The Tonight Show” (-8%) and CBS’ “The Late Show” (-6%) each saw decreases.

“Nightline” bested CBS’ “The Late Show” during the month by its largest November-sweep Total Viewer advantage (+632,000) in 12 years - since November 1999.    

“Nightline” posted its strongest Adults 18-49 lead (+181,000) over NBC’s “The Tonight Show” during a November sweep in 18 years and largest margin during any sweep in 16 years - since November 1993 and May 1995.   In addition, the ABC program saw its largest Total Viewer (+466,000) and Adults 25-54 (+220,000) margins over a Jay Leno-hosted “The Tonight Show” during any sweeps period in 16 years - since May 1995.

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 November 21, 2011)

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

ABC ”Nightline”       5,499,000     2,057,000/ 1.7    1,635,000/ 1.3

CBS “Late Show”       3,282,000     1,442,000/ 1.2    1,110,000/ 0.9

NBC “Tonight Show”    3,615,000     1,377,000/ 1.1    1,027,000/ 0.8

(November 2011 Sweep)

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

ABC ”Nightline”       4,117,000     1,619,000/ 1.3    1,259,000/ 1.0

CBS “Late Show”       3,485,000     1,520,000/ 1.3    1,194,000/ 0.9

NBC “Tonight Show”    3,651,000     1,399,000/ 1.2    1,078,000/ 0.8

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 11/21/11, 11/14/11 & 11/22/10.  Most Current: 2011-2012 Season (9/19 – 11/27/11) and 2010-2011 Season (9/20 – 11/28/10).  November 2011 Sweep (10/27-11/23/11) & November 2010 Sweep (10/28-11/24/10).  July 2011 Sweep (6/30-7/27/11).  Sweep periods (November, February, May and July).