'World News Tonight' Grows Week-to-Week and Year-to-Year Among Total Viewers

— --

World News Tonight” ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers, leading “NBC Nightly News” head-to-head on Wednesday by 126,000 (8.055 million vs. 7.929 million on 8/31/16) and Friday by 122,000 (7.048 million vs. 6.926 million on 9/2/16).

“World News Tonight” increased its Total Viewer count week to week by 3% (7.934 million vs. 7.716 million w/o 8/29/16) to draw its largest overall audience in 12 weeks – since w/o 6/6/16.

“World News Tonight” improved on the same week last year in Total Viewers (+3% - 7.934 million vs.  7.706 million for w/o 8/31/15) for the 2nd week in a row and for the 4th time in the last 5 weeks.   In fact, “World News Tonight” grew the most year-to-year compared to “CBS Evening News” (less than +1%) and “NBC Nightly News” (-3%).

“World News Tonight” narrowed its year-to-year gaps (vs. w/o 8/31/15) with “NBC Nightly News” in Total Viewers (-81% - 103,000 vs. 548,000) and Adults 18-49 (-8% - 231,000 vs. 252,000).

For the 3rd consecutive week, “World News Tonight” cut its Total Viewer margin with “NBC Nightly News” (-16% - 103,000 vs. 123,000), posting its closest performance with the NBC program in 5 weeks – since w/o 7/25/16.

Season to date, “World News Tonight” is improving versus the same point last season in Total Viewers (+42,000 - 8.356 million vs. 8.314 million).  Growing for the 4th straight year, “World News Tonight” is delivering its largest overall viewer audience in 9 years – since the 2006-07 season.

“World News Tonight” is also narrowing its Total Viewer season margin with “NBC Nightly News” by double digits (-24% - 279,000 vs. 366,000) for the 2nd straight seasonposting its closest overall viewer performance with the NBC program in 9 years – since the 2006-07 season.

For the week, “World News Tonight” beat the “CBS Evening News” by 1.376 million Total Viewers, by 207,000 Adults 25-54 and by 199,000 Adults 18-49.

NOTE: Due NFL Preseason on Thursday (9/1/16), “NBC Nightly News” was retitled to “NBC-Nitely-News” and was excluded from the weekly averages.  NBC’s averages are based on 4 days (Mon-Wed and Fri).

ABC “World News Tonight with David Muir” airs 6:30–7:00 p.m. EDT 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 8/29/16, 8/22/16 and 8/31/15.  Most Current: 2015-2016 Season (9/21/15 – 9/4/16) and 2014-2015 Season (9/22/14 – 9/6/15).   Averages based on regular telecasts.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DianeSawyer and www.facebook.com/ABC2020

Twitter: @DianeSawyer and @ABC2020