For First Time in New Time Period, “Nightline” is #1 for the First Quarter of 2015 in Both Total Viewers and Adults 25-54

By
Alyssa Apple
April 2, 2015, 2:36 PM ET
5 min read

— -- 1Q15:

ABC’s “Nightline” ranked No. 1 during the 1st quarter 2015 in both Total Viewers (1.710 million) and Adults 25-54 (697,000-tie), based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research. “Nightline’s Adults 25-54 performance represented its first-ever No. 1 finish in the key adults news demo since moving to its new time-slot. In addition, its Total Viewer victory marked its first-ever 1st quarter win in its new time-period and its 3rd win in the last 4 quarters.

“Nightline” beat CBS’ average (1.304 million, 508,000 and 391,000, respectively) of “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”/”The Late Late Show”/”The Talk – After Dark”/“The Late Late Show with James Corden” in all key target demos: Total Viewers (+406,000), Adults 25-54 (+189,000) and Adults 18-49 (+141,000), leading CBS by its largest-ever quarter margins in its new time slot. Further, “Nightline” has beaten CBS in overall viewers and in the key adult news demo in all 9 quarters that it has aired in its new time period.

“Nightline” was up over the previous quarter (686,000 and 518,000 for 4Q14) in Adults 25-54 (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+3%) to post its strongest quarter numbers in both measures in 5 quarters – since 4Q13.

“Nightline” improved on its year-ago quarter performance (1.661 million, 684,000 and 521,000 for 1Q14) in all key target demos: Total Viewers (+3%), Adults 25-54 (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+2%), seeing its best-ever 1st quarter numbers in its new time-period in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. Further, “Nightline” delivered ABC’s largest overall audience in the time period during a 1st quarter in 12 years – since 1Q03.

ABC News’ “Nightline” ranked No. 1 for the 3rd consecutive week in both Total Viewers (1.640 million) and Adults 25-54 (695,000) during the week of March 23, 2015, based on Live +Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. In fact, the ABC News late night program has ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers for the last 7 weeks and in 21 of the past 23. In addition, taking the top spot for the 3rd week running, “Nightline” posted its longest stretch at the top in the key adult news demo versus its CBS and NBC competition since moving to its news time period.

“Nightline” outdelivered the premiere week of CBS’ “Late Night with James Corden” (1.502 million, 602,000 and 488,000, respectively) in all key target demos: Total Viewers (+138,000), Adults 25-54 (+93,000) and Adults 18-49 (+54,000).

“Nightline” was up from the previous week (664,000 and 500,000 respectively, for w/o 3/16/15) in Adults 25-54 (+5%) and Adults 18-49 (+8%).

For the 6th straight week, “Nightline” improved year to year (633,000, and 505,000, respectively, on w/o 3/24/14) in both Adults 25-54 (+10%) and Adults 18-49 (+7%). In fact, “Nightline” stood as the only program to grow year to year in either demo compared to CBS’ “The Late Late Show” (-5%/-2%) and NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (-34%/-38%)

“Nightline’s” Thursday airing (3/26/15) stood as the week’s No. 1 telecast in all key target demos: Total Viewers (1.854 million), Adults 25-54 (785,000) and Adults 18-49 (645,000), leading every telecast of the week of CBS’ “The Late Late Show” and NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”

Season to date, ABC News’ “Nightline” ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers (1.713 million), outdelivering CBS’ average of “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”/”The Late Late Show”/”The Talk – After Dark/The Late Late Show with James Corden” (+324,000) and NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (+163,000). In addition, “Nightline” is up by in Total Viewers (+4% - 1.713 million vs. 1.650 million) compared to the same point last season.

NOTE: CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden” was delayed on Thursday (3/26/15) and Friday (3/27/15) and each was specialed due to NCAA Basketball; ratings for both days are excluded from the average. “The Late Late Show’s” averages are based on 3 days (Mon-Wed), while “Nightline” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” are based on 5 days.

ABC News’ “Nightline” is anchored by Dan Harris, Juju Chang and Byron Pitts. Roxanna Sherwood is executive producer, and Steven Baker is Senior Broadcast Producer. The program airs weeknights from 12:35-1:05 a.m., ET on the ABC Television Network. Together with “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Nightline” is part of ABC’s winning late night strategy of airing news and entertainment programming.

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 3/23/15, 3/16/15 and 3/24/14. Most Current: 2014-2015 Season (9/22/14 – 3/29/15) and 2013-2014 Season (9/23/13 – 3/30/14). Most Current - 1Q15: 12/29/14 – 3/29/15, 1Q14: 12/30/13 – 3/30/14. 4Q14: 9/22 – 12/28/14. Averages based on regular telecasts. “Nightline” premiered in its new time period in January 2013. “Seth Meyers” premiered in February 2014.