During First Quarter of 2013, "ABC World News" Cuts Total Viewing (-40%) and Demo (-35%) Gaps with "NBC Nightly News" to Smallest in 5 Years

"ABC World News" Increases Overall Audience by 5% and Demo Audience by 3% While NBC's Audience Declines in Both Measures During First Quarter

ABC Posts Year-to-Year Gains in 12 of 13 Weeks in Total Viewers and in 9 of 13 Weeks in the Key News Demo during 1Q13

Last Week "ABC World News" Posted Smallest Demo Gap with NBC in Over 3 Years - 65,000 Adults 25-54

During the first quarter of 2013 "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 8.25 million Total Viewers and a 1.8 rating/7 share/2.15 million among Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. "World News" was up compared to the previous quarter (7.87 million and 2.02 million for 4Q12) and the year-ago quarter (7.89 million and 2.11 million for 1Q12) among both Total Viewers (+5% and +5%, respectively) and Adults 25-54 (+7% and +2%, respectively). In fact, the ABC evening newscast turned in its strongest quarter performance in 2 years- since 1Q11.

In addition, "World News" posted year-to-year increases in 12 of the 13 weeks of 1Q13 in Total Viewers and in 9 of 13 in Adults 25-54.

"World News" narrowed its year-to-year quarter gaps (1Q12) with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits among both Total Viewers (-40%, 757,000 vs. 1.26 million) and Adults 25-54 (-35%, 281,000 vs. 435,000) - marking its closest first quarter margins with NBC in 5 years - since 1Q08.

Compared to the previous quarter (4Q12), "World News" decreased its margins with "NBC Nightly News" in Total Viewers (-5% - 757,000 vs. 796,000) and Adults 25-54 (-22% - 281,000 vs. 358,000), delivering its smallest Total Viewers gap with the NBC newscast in 6 quarters - since 3Q11.

For the quarter, "World News" beat the "CBS Evening News" by 1.21 million Total Viewers and by 176,000 Adults 25-54 viewers.

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For the week of March 25, 2013, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 7.81 million Total Viewers and a 1.7 rating/7 share/2.02 million in Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. "World News" grew its Adults 25-54 audience (+2% - 1.98 million on w/o 3/18/13) for the 2nd straight week, standing as the only evening newscast to grow week-to-week in the key adult news demo - "CBS Evening News" (-1%) and "NBC Nightly News" (-2%).

For the 2nd week in a row and in 8 in the last 9, "World News" delivered increases over the year-ago week (7.121 million and 1.913 million, respectively, on w/o 3/26/12) among both Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%). The ABC evening newscast improved the most year-to-year among Adults 25-54 compared to "CBS Evening News" (+1%) and "NBC Nightly News" (-6%).

For the 3rd consecutive week, "World News" cut its Adults 25-54 gap with "NBC Nightly News" (-55% - 65,000 vs. 146,000) by double-digits to scored its closest news demo performance with the NBC program in more than 3 1/2 years - since w/o 9/7/09.

"World News" decreased its year-to-year gaps by double-digits with "NBC Nightly News" among both Total Viewers (-36% - 557,000 vs. 874,000) and Adults 25-54 (-78% - 65,000 vs. 292,000). In fact, "World News" has narrowed its year-to-year margins with "Nightly News" in 8 of the last 9 weeks.

Season-to-date, "World News" has increased its Total Viewing audience (+3%) 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 by double-digits among both Total Viewers (-29%) and Adults 25-54 (-15%) with "NBC Nightly News" to post its smallest Total Viewer gap (779,000) with the NBC program in 5 years and narrowest demo margin (319,000) in 4 years - since the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 seasons, respectively.

For the week, "ABC World News" defeated the "CBS Evening News" by 1.44 million Total Viewers and by 325,000 Adults 25-54, posting its largest news demo advantage in more than 1 year - since w/p 3/5/12 .

Note : Due to Good Friday, "World News" was retitled to "Wrld News Tonite" on Friday (3/29/13) and was excluded from the averages. "CBS Evening News" aired with low coverage and was broken out on Thu 3/28/13 (76%) and Fri 3/29/13 (77%) due to NCAA Basketball and was retitled "CBS-Evening-Nws;" ratings for both days were excluded from the averages. "CBS Evening News" averages are based on 3 days (Mon-Wed), "World News" averages are based on 4 days (Mon-Thurs) and "Nightly News" averages are based on 5 days.

RELATED : ABC News Launches #MyWorldNewsStory Campaign

"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 (1st Quarter 2013)

EVENING NEWS (Week of March 25, 2013)

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 3/25/13, 3/18/13 & 3/26/12. Most Current - 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 - 3/31/13) and 2011-2012 Season (9/19/11 - 3/25/12). All averages based on regular telecasts. Most Current - 1Q13: 12/31/12 - 3/31/12. 1Q12: 12/26/11 - 3/25/12. 3Q12: 9/24 - 12/30/12.

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