ABC Program Ranks #1 Among Adults 25-54 in Back-to-Back Quarters for First Time in Nearly 7 Years

In Total Viewers, ABC Newscast is Up the Most for the Quarter (+5%) from the Same Time Last Year

For the Week, "World News Tonight" Finishes First in Adults 25-54 Demo Again - 7 Weeks Straight for the ABC Newscast

For the 2013-14 Season, ABC's Evening Broadcast is the Only Program to Grow in Adults 25-54 (+5%) Compared to Previous Season

Week of September 15, 2014:

ABC's " World News Tonight with David Muir" stood as the No. 1 evening newscast in the final week of the season in Adults 25-54 (2.088 million) for the week of September 15, 2014, based on Live +Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. In fact, ABC finished the season strong in winning the last 7 weeks of the 2013-14 season. Further, ABC has finished as the evening's top news program in 11 of the last 12 weeks and in 17 of the final 24 weeks of the season. During the week, "World News Tonight" outperformed the "NBC Nightly News" (1.927 million) by 161,000 news demo viewers.

"World News Tonight" grew year to year in Total Viewers (+4%), Adults 25-54 (+9%) and Adults 18-49 (+3%) - 7.538 million, 1.910 million and 1.318 million, respectively, on w/o 9/16/13. "World News Tonight" improved its overall viewer count the most compared to "CBS Evening News" (+2%) and "NBC Nightly News" (+2%).

For the week, "World News Tonight" outperformed the "CBS Evening News" by 1.591 million Total Viewers, by 489,000 Adults 25-54 and by 258,000 Adults 18-49.

3Q 2014:

ABC's "World News Tonight" won the 3rd Quarter 2014 in Adults 25-54 (1.955 million), based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research. The ABC evening newscast turned in a dominant performance during the quarter in ranking No. 1 in the key adult news demo in 11 of the 12 weeks.

"World News Tonight" scored its first 3rd quarter victory in 7 years - since 3Q07. Also, after winning 2Q14, the ABC evening newscast delivered its first back-to-back quarter win in the key adult news demo in nearly 7 years - since 4Q07 and 1Q08.

"World News Tonight" led "NBC Nightly News" (1.845 million) by its largest Adults 25-54 advantage (+110,000) during any quarter in 7 years - since 3Q07.

In Total Viewers, the ABC newscast cut its quarter-to-quarter margin with "Nightly News" by more than half (-54% - 306,000 vs. 665,000 for 2Q14) to post its closest quarter performance in more than 6 years - since 2Q08. "World News Tonight" also narrowed its overall viewer gap with the NBC program versus the year-ago quarter by a third (-32% - 306,000 vs. 453,000 for 3Q13) for its narrowest overall viewer performance during a 3rd quarter in 7 years - since 3Q07.

In Adults 18-49, the ABC newscast closed in on "Nightly News" both from the previous quarter (-9% - 523,000 vs. 577,000 for 2Q14) and the year-earlier quarter (-25% - 523,000 vs. 698,000) for its closest performance for any quarter in 7 years - since 3Q07.

"World News Tonight" saw across-to-board growth from the year-ago quarter (7.226 million, 1.841 million and 1.276 million for 3Q13): Total Viewers (+5%), Adults 25-54 (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%), drawing its largest overall 3rd quarter audience in 7 years and best in the key adult news demo in 6 years - since 3Q07 and 3Q08, respectively. In addition, the ABC evening newscast grew the most in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 compared to "CBS Evening News" (+3%/+1%) and "NBC Nightly News" (+3%/-7%).

For the 3rd quarter, "World News Tonight" led the "CBS Evening News" by 1.487 million Total Viewers, by 467,000 Adults 25-54 and by 284,000 Adults 18-49, posting its largest overall audience lead during any quarter in 3 years - since 3Q11.

2013-14 Season:

During the 2013-14 Season, "World News Tonight" improved over the previous season in both Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 25-54 (+5%), delivering its most-watched season in 6 years and best news demo number in 3 years - since the 2007-08 and the 2010-11 seasons, respectively, based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research. "World News Tonight" also stood as the only evening newscast to improve on its news demo performance from the previous season compared to "CBS Evening News" (-4%) and "NBC Nightly News" (-3%).

In addition, "World News Tonight" slashed its season margin with "NBC Nightly News" in Adults 25-54 by more than half (-64% - 100,000 vs. 274,000) compared to its margin last season. In fact, cutting its Adults 25-54 gap by double digits for the 3rd consecutive season, "World News Tonight" saw its closest news demo performance with the NBC program in 6 years - since the 2007-08 season.

"World News Tonight" significantly increased its Adults 25-54 season lead over "CBS Evening News" versus its year-ago season lead (+69% - 417,000 vs. 247,000).

NOTE: ABC's Diane Sawyer was the anchor of the ABC evening newscast through Wednesday, August 27, 2014. David Muir became anchor on September 2, 2014. Muir filled in for Sawyer throughout the season and quarter as the primary substitute anchor.

NOTE: "CBS Evening News" was retitled to "CBS Evening Nws" on Thursday (9/18/14) for NFL and was excluded from the averages. CBS' weekly averages are based on 4 days (Mon-Wed and Fri).

ABC "World News Tonight with David Muir" airs at 6:30 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network. Almin Karamehmedovic is the executive producer of the broadcast. Follow David Muir and the "World News Tonight" team online: @DavidMuir; @WNTonight; facebook.com/DavidMuirABC; facebook.com/WorldNewsTonight.

EVENING NEWS (Week of September 15, 2014)

EVENING NEWS (3rd Quarter 2014)

EVENING NEWS (2013-14 Season)

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 9/15/14, 9/8/14 and 9/16/13. Most Current: 2013-2014 Season (9/23/13 - 9/23/14) and 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 - 9/22/13). Most Current - 3Q14: 6/30 - 9/21/14. 2Q14: 3/31 - 6/29/14. 3Q13: 7/1 - 9/22/13. Averages based on regular telecasts.

Most Current data is the metric ABC has consistently used for many years to report and track quarterly, sweeps and season ratings. It measures all available viewership up to seven days after a program airs. Because there is a two-week lag for Nielsen in processing Live + 7 data, Most Current numbers include Live + 7 data and the two most recent weeks of Live + Same Day data.

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