“World News with Diane Sawyer” Narrows Weekly Total Viewing Gap with NBC for Third Consecutive Week

Marks Smallest Total Viewing Gap This Year

 

“World News” Increases Total Viewing Advantage Over CBS Both

Year-to-Year & Week-to-Week

 

For the week of March 8th, “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer” averaged 7.95 million Total Viewers and a 1.8/7 among Adults 25-54 according to Nielsen Media Research. “World News” was the only evening newscast to experience growth among Total Viewers both year-to-year (+140,000) and week-to-week (+40,000).

 

Compared to the previous week, “World News” closed the Total Viewing gap with “NBC Nightly News” by 16% (-220,000). This marks the smallest total viewing gap between the two programs since the week of New Years and the third straight week “World News” has narrowed the gap.

 

Year-to-Year, World News increased its Total Viewing advantage over “CBS Evening News” by 26% (+370,000) and week-to-week “World News” Total Viewing lead was 3% larger (+50,000).

 

Last week “World News” featured reporting from Diane Sawyer on the struggles of Afghan women. Dan Harris investigated an anti-homosexual bill in Uganda and what connection American evangelicals played in its creation. “World News” also continued to cover the ongoing debate on comprehensive health care reform as the President began making his closing arguments. 

 

Jon Banner is the executive producer of “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.”

 

EVENING NEWS (Week of March 8, 2010)

 

 

Total Viewers 

Adults 25-54   

Households

 

 

 

 

ABC

 7,950,000      

1.8/7;  2,210,000

5.4/11

NBC

 9,140,000

2.2/8;  2,680,000

6.1/12

CBS

 6,140,000

1.5/6;  1,880,000

4.1/8

 

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 3/8/10, 3/1/10 & 3/9/09.