Delivering Comprehensive Breaking News Coverage from Boston, "ABC World News" Posts its Largest Overall and Demo Audiences in Two Years on Monday, April 15

"ABC World News" Grows Total Viewing Audience in 16 of the Last 17 Weeks, Year-to-Year

Season-to-Date, ABC Has Slashed Total Viewing and Demo Gaps with NBC to Smallest in 4 Years

For the week of April 15, 2013, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 8.49 million Total Viewers and a 2.0 rating/8 share/2.34 million in Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research.

With comprehensive coverage of breaking news stories that included the bombing at the Boston marathon and the manhunt that followed as well as the explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant "World News" surged over the previous week (7.47 million and 1.87 million, respectively, on w/o 4/8/13) among Total Viewers (+14%) and Adults 25-54 (+25%), delivering the program's largest news demo performance in more than 2 years - since w/o 2/28/11.

On Monday covering the breaking news in Boston (4/15/13), "World News" turned in its strongest telecast among both Total Viewers (9.79 million) and Adults 25-54 (3.09 million) in over 2 years - since 2/2/11 and 2/1/11, respectively, regular telecasts.

"World News" was up sharply year-to-year (7.12 million and 1.88 million, respectively, on w/o 4/16/12) by +19% in Total Viewers and by +24% in Adults 25-54. In fact, "World News" has improved its overall audience over the year-ago week in 16 of the last 17 weeks.

Season-to-date, "World News" has increased its Total Viewing audience (+4%) compared to the same point last season, drawing its most-watched season in 2 years - since the 2010-11 season. "World News" narrowed its margins with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits among both Total Viewers (-26%) and Adults 25-54 (-10%) to post its smallest margins in Total Viewers (804,000) and Adults 25-54 (332,000) with the NBC program in 4 years - since the 2008-09 season.

For the week, "ABC World News" outperformed the "CBS Evening News" by 1.21 million Total Viewers and by 320,000 Adults 25-54.

Note: On Friday (4/19/13), "ABC World News," "CBS Evening News" and "NBC Nightly News" were coded as breakouts and are excluded from the weekly averages. Averages are based on 4 days (Mon-Thurs).

"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 April 15, 2013)

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 4/15/13, 4/8/13 & 4/16/12. Most Current - 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 - 4/21/13) and 2011-2012 Season (9/19/11 - 4/15/12). All averages based on regular telecasts.