G aps with NBC Continue to Narrow, Decrease by Double-Digits in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54

"World News" is Drawing its Most-Watched Season in Three Years

For the week of February 18, 2013, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 8.44 million Total Viewers and a 1.9 rating/7 share/2.25 million in Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. "World News" was up over the previous week by +1% in Total Viewers and by +2% in Adults 25-54 - 8.33 million and 2.22 million, respectively, on w/o 2/11/13.

For the 4th straight week, "World News" improved on the same week last year in both Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%) - 7.66 million and 2.12 million, respectively, on w/o 2/20/12. Further, "World News" has built on its Total Viewer audience year to year for the 9th consecutive week.

Compared to the year-ago week , "World News" decreased its margins with "NBC Nightly News" for the 4th week running by double-digits in both Total Viewers (-34% - 977,000 vs. 1.47 million) and Adults 25-54 (-24% - 316,000 vs. 417,000).

Season to date, "World News" has increased its Total Viewing audience (+2%) compared to the same point last season, drawing its most-watched season in 3 years - since the 2009-10 season. For the 3rd year in a row, "World News" narrowed its margins in both Total Viewers (-23%) and Adults 25-54 (-6%) with "NBC Nightly News" to post its smallest gaps (804,000 and 347,000, respectively) with the NBC program in 4 years- since the 2008-09 season.

For the week "ABC World News" beat "CBS Evening News" by 1.06 million Total Viewers and by 167,000 Adults 25-54.

"ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" airs at 6:30 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network. Michael Corn is the executive producer of the broadcast. Follow Diane Sawyer and the "World News" team online: @DianeSawyer; @ABCWorldNews; facebook.com/DianeSawyer; facebook.com/WorldNews.

EVENING NEWS (Week of February 18, 2013)

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 2/18/13, 2/11/13 & 2/20/12. Most Current - 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 - 2/25/13) and 2011-2012 Season (9/19/11 - 2/19/12). All averages based on regular telecasts.

-ABC-