"World News Tonight with David Muir" Delivers Closest February Sweep Finish with NBC in 9 Years Among Total Viewers and 8 Years in Adults 25-54
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February 2016 Sweep
“World News Tonight with David Muir” averaged 9.083 million Total Viewers, 2.124 million Adults 25-54 and 1.506 million Adults 18-49 during the 2016 February sweep, based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research.
“World News Tonight” cut its year-to-year sweep margins with “NBC Nightly News” in Total Viewers (-88% - 49,000 vs. 393,000) and Adults 25-54 (-8% - 131,000 vs. 143,000) to mark its closest February sweep performances in 9 years in Total Viewers and in 8 years in Adults 25-54 – since February 2007 and February 2008, respectively.
“World News Tonight” scored across-the-board improvement from the November 2015 sweep (8.977 million, 2.068 million and 1.398 million, respectively): Total Viewers (+1%), Adults 25-54 (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).
“World News Tonight” narrowed its margins with “NBC Nightly News” from the previous sweep by double digits in Total Viewers (-81% - 49,000 vs. 255,000), Adults 25-54 (-38% - 127,000 vs. 205,000) and Adults 18-49 (-47% - 131,000 vs. 249,000).
“World News” outperformed the “CBS Evening News” by 1.473 million Total Viewers, by 297,000 Adults 25-54 and by 267,000 during the 2016 February sweep, seeing its largest overall viewer advantage during a February sweep in 5 years – since February 2011.
Week of February 29, 2016
ABC News’ “World News Tonight with David Muir” averaged 8.917 million Total Viewers, 2.116 million Adults 25-54 and 1.538 million Adults 18-49 for the week of February 29, 2016, based on Live +Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” finished neck and neck with “NBC Nightly News” as only 7,000 Total Viewers separated the two programs for the week (8.917 million vs. 8.924 million).
“World News Tonight” ranked as the No. 1 newscast, leading “NBC Nightly News,” on Monday (2/29/16) in Total Viewers (+196,000 – 9.612 million vs. 9.416 million) and Adults 25-54 (+95,000 – 2.464 million vs. 2.369 million). In fact, “World News Tonight’s” Monday airing stood as the week’s most-watched telecast, beating every telecast of the week of “NBC Nightly News” and the “CBS Evening News.”
In addition, “World News Tonight” ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers, leading the NBC program, on Thursday (+118,000 – 8.986 million vs. 8.868 million on 3/3/16) and Friday (+51,000 – 8.064 million vs. 8.013 million on 3/4/16). Further, “World News Tonight” has stood as the most-watched newscast on Thursday and Friday for the 5th week in a row.
Since David Muir took the chair, “World News Tonight” is delivering its largest overall viewer audience in over 10 years – since the 2004-05 season.
“World News Tonight” saw gains from the previous week (w/o 2/22/16) in all key target demos: Total Viewers (8.917 million vs. 8.875 million), Adults 25-54 (+3% - 2.116 million vs. 2.059 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 1.538 million vs. 1.440 million).
Season to date, “World News Tonight” is narrowing its Total Viewer season margin with “NBC Nightly News” by more than half (-56% - 246,000 vs. 559,000), posting its closest overall viewer performance with the NBC program in 8 years – since the 2007-08 season.
“World News Tonight” narrowed its week-to-week margins with “NBC Nightly News” by double digits in both Adults 25-54 (-38% - 61,000 vs. 99,000) and Adults 18-49 (-65% - 46,000 vs. 131,000) to its closest deliveries in 2 months – since w/o 12/28/15.
“World News Tonight” decreased its year-ago gaps with “NBC Nightly News” also in both Adults 25-54 (-32% - 61,000 vs. 90,000) and Adults 18-49 (-74% - 46,000 vs. 174,000).
For the week, “World News Tonight” outperformed the “CBS Evening News” by 1.572 million Total Viewers, by 419,000 Adults 25-54 and by 384,000 Adults 18-49, beating the CBS program by its largest Adults 18-49 advantage in nearly 9 months – since w/o 6/1/15.
ABC “World News Tonight with David Muir” airs 6:30–7:00 p.m. EST on the ABC Television Network. Almin Karamehmedovic is the executive producer of the broadcast.
Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 2/29/16, 2/22/16 and 3/2/15. Most Current: 2015-2016 Season (9/21/15 – 3/7/16) and 2014-2015 Season (9/22/14 – 3/8/15). Most Current: February 2016 Sweep (2/4-3/2/16), February 2015 Sweep (1/29-2/25/15) and November 2015 Sweep (10/29-11/25/15). Sweep periods (November, February, May and July). NOTE: Due to the digital transition, the 2009 February sweep was 3/5 – 4/1/09. Averages based on regular telecasts.
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