ABC Newscast Snaps "Today's" Historic 16 Year Winning Streak  in the Mornings

For the week of April 9, 2012, ABC News' "Good Morning America" drew 5.168 million Total Viewers, to rank No. 1 for the week, outperforming NBC's "Today" (5.137 million) by +31,000 Total Viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.  In the process, "GMA" outdrew "Today" during the course of a week for the first time in more than 16 years - since w/o 12/4/95.  Additionally, Goodmorningamerica.com on Yahoo! had 14.8 million more unique users than Today.com in March. 

"First and foremost, we thank our GMA viewers and online audience - a loyal and growing number who motivate us every single morning.  All of us at ABC News salute the dynamic team at Good Morning America who never sleep and who care so deeply about the program," said Ben Sherwood, president, ABC News. "We also thank our ABC network colleagues and our powerhouse stations and affiliates for supporting the program in so many ways. Of course, we congratulate our friends at Today for the greatest winning streak in broadcasting history and for their excellence and leadership during this historic run.  It's a special day for ABC News and, after a proper celebration 852 weeks in the making, we'll get right back to work to be ready tomorrow to help GMA viewers start their day with a rewarding experience and big picture understanding of the world."

Growing week to week in both Total Viewers (+5%) and Adults 25-54 (+8%), "GMA" drew its largest overall audience in 6 weeks - best since w/o 2/27/12.  In fact, "GMA" drew its 2nd largest Total Viewer count of the season.   

"GMA" also improved on the year-ago week by +7% in Total Viewers and by +7% in Adults 25-54 (4.812 million and 1.845 million, respectively, on w/o 4/11/11) .  In fact, "GMA" stood as the only morning program to post year-to-year increases as both NBC's "Today" (-9%/12%) and "CBS This Morning" (-6%/-4%) turned in losses.

For the 3rd time in the last 4 weeks, "GMA" ranked as the No. 1 morning newscast twice during the course of a week in Total Viewers, out-delivering NBC's "Today" by +419,000 on Wednesday (5.638 million vs. 5.219 million - 4/11/12) and by +359,000 on Friday (5.111 million vs. 4.752 million - 4/13/12).  Further, Wednesday was "GMA's" most-watched telecast in nearly 1 year - since the program's coverage of the death of Osama bin Laden on Monday, May 2, 2011.

Season to date, "GMA" narrowed its gaps in both Total Viewers (-41%) and Adults 25-54 (-43%) versus its year-ago season gaps.  In fact "GMA" is posting its smallest Total Viewer (482,000) and Adults 25-54 (431,000) margins with "Today" in 16 years - since the 1995-96 Season.

Season to date "GMA" is the only morning program to grow in Total Viewers (+5%) and Adults 25-54 (+8%) versus its year-ago averages (NBC's "Today:" -2%/-7%, respectively; CBS' "This Morning:" -9%/-11%, respectively). "GMA" is seeing its largest overall season audience in 5 years, since 2006-07.

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. Tom Cibrowski is senior executive producer.

WEEK OF 4/9/12         TOTAL VIEWERS     ADULTS 25-54        HOUSEHOLDS

ABC                   5,168,000        1.6/12; 1,974,000    3.8/14

NBC                   5,137,000        1.8/13; 2,231,000    3.9/14

CBS                   2,511,000        0.8/ 6;   994,000    1.9/ 7

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 4/2912, 4/2/12 & 4/11/11.  Most Current:  2011-2012 Season (9/19/11 - 4/15/12) and 2010-2011 Season (9/20/10 - 4/17/11).