"Nightline" Ranks as the No. 1 Program in Latenight Across All Target Demos for the Week of February 27
Season to Date, "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Latenight Among Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 During the February 2012 Sweep in Adults 25-54
For the week of February 27, 2012, ABC's "Nightline" ranked as the No. 1 program in latenight across all target demos: Total Viewers (3.878 million) , Adults 25-54 (1.460 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.125 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. In fact, the ABC program has taken the top spot for the 2nd time in the last 3 weeks in all 3 measures.
"Nightline" improved on the year-ago week in Total Viewers (+8%) , Adults 25-54 (+1%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%) , standing as the only program to grow year-to-year versus NBC's "The Tonight Show" (-3%, -5% and -1%, respectively) and CBS' "The Late Show" (-1%, -4% and -7%, respectively).
Season to date, "Nightline" ranks No. 1 in latenight among Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, ahead of both NBC's "The Tonight Show" and CBS' "The Late Show." This marks the 2nd straight year that the ABC program is taking the top spot in overall viewers and in the key adult news demo.
February 2012 Sweep
ABC News' "Nightline" ranked No. 1 during the February 2012 sweep in Adults 25-54 (1.524 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. In fact, it was the 2nd February in a row and the 5th time in the last 6 sweeps periods that "Nightline" led in the key adult news demo.
"Nightline" was up over the year-ago sweep in Total Viewers (3.857 million vs. 3.854 million) , drawing its largest February sweep audience in 8 years - since February 2004.
"Nightline" outperformed CBS' "The Late Show" during the month by its largest February-sweep advantages in Total Viewers (+455,000) and Adults 25-54 (+43,000) in 13 years - since February 1999.
"Nightline" outperformed NBC's "The Tonight Show" in Total Viewers (+23,000) for the 2nd straight February.
ABC News' "Nightline" is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Bill Weir. Juju Chang is a correspondent. Jeanmarie Condon is the Executive Producer. The program airs weeknights from 11:35 p.m., ET to 12:00 a.m. on the ABC Television Network.
(Week of February 27, 2012)
| PROGRAM AVERAGES | TOTAL VIEWERS | A25-54(000)/Rtg | A18-49(000)/Rtg |
| ABC "Nightline" | 3,878,000 | 1,460,000/1.2 | 1,125,000/0.9 |
| CBS "Late Show" | 3,258,000 | 1,397,000/1.2 | 1,059,000/0.8 |
| NBC "Tonight Show" | 3,722,000 | 1,399,000/1.2 | 1,081,000/0.8 |
(February 2012 Sweep)
| PROGRAM AVERAGES | TOTAL VIEWERS | A25-54(000)/Rtg | A18-49(000)/Rtg |
| ABC "Nightline" | 3,857,000 | 1,524,000/1.3 | 1,150,000/0.9 |
| CBS "Late Show" | 3,402,000 | 1,481,000/1.2 | 1,141,000/0.9 |
| NBC "Tonight Show" | 3,898,000 | 1,501,000/1.2 | 1,156,000/0.9 |
Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI (Total Viewers and Adults 25-54); Live+SD for 2/26/12, 2/19/12 & 2/27/11. February 2012 Sweep (2/2-2/29/12), February 2011 (2/3-3/2/11) & November 2011 Sweep (10/27-11/23/11). Sweep periods (November, February, May and July).