NBC Nightly News: 250 Consecutive Weeks as America's Most-Watched Evening Newscast

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams was No. 1 across the board for the week ending June 27, 2014, and the second quarter of 2014, according to Nielsen Media Research data. This marks the NBC broadcast’s 250th consecutive week and 27th consecutive quarter as America’s most-watched evening newscast. (Photo: AP Images)

Nightly expanded its Q2 total viewer audience compared to Q2’13, posting growth in total viewers of +3 percent or +241,000. Versus the same week last year, Nightly saw growth among both total viewers (+6 percent, or +475,000) and the key demo A25-54 viewers (+3 percent, or +49,000).

Nightly continues to post the largest season-to-season growth among the national evening newscasts, gaining +542,000 total viewers (+6 percent) and widening its advantage over ABC by +34 percent. Season-to-date, Nightly is posting its biggest total viewer audience (9.101 million) since the 2005-06 season and its largest lead over ABC (+1.052 million) since the 2010-11 season.

Q2 2014 Highlights:

• Nightly averaged 8.254 million viewers, leading ABC World News by +10 percent, (+759,000) and CBS Evening News by +32 percent (+1,993,000).

• Nightly averaged a 1.6 A25-54 rating, tied for No. 1 with ABC and topping CBS by +4 tenths.

• Among A25-54 viewers, Nightly averaged 1.951 million viewers, outperforming ABC by +9,000 and CBS by +456,000.

• Nightly averaged a 1.1 A18-49 rating, tied for No. 1 with ABC and topping CBS by +3 tenths.

• Among A18-49 (000), Nightly averaged 1.456 million viewers, topping ABC by +105,000 and CBS by +423,000.

Weekly Highlights:

• Nightly delivered 7.944 million viewers, leading ABC World News by +8 percent (+604,000) and CBS Evening News by +36 percent (+2,093,000).

• Nightly averaged a 1.6 A25-54 rating, tied for No. 1 with ABC and topping CBS by +5 tenths.

• Among A25-54 (000), Nightly averaged 1.911 million viewers, outperforming ABC by +x percent (+50,000) and CBS by +x percent (+558,000).

• Nightly averaged a 1.1 A18-49 rating, +1 tenth over ABC and +3 tenths over CBS.

• Among A18-49 (000), Nightly averaged 1.397 million viewers, topping ABC by +138,000 and CBS by +432,000.

Trends:

• Nightly has won in total viewers for 250 consecutive weeks, and in 297 of the past 298 weeks.

• Nightly has been No. 1 in A25-54 rating for 294 of the past 295 weeks.

• Nightly has been No. 1 in A18-49 rating for 307 consecutive weeks.

• Nightly has been No. 1 in total viewers for 27 consecutive quarters.

• Nightly has been No. 1 in viewers A25-54 for 25 consecutive quarters.

• Nightly has been No. 1 in viewers A18-49 for 27 consecutive quarters.

• Nightly has been No. 1 in rating Adults 25-54 for 27 consecutive quarters (including 3 ties).

• Nightly has been No. 1 in rating Women 25-54 for 24 consecutive quarters (includes 2 ties).

• Nightly has been No. 1 in rating Men 25-54 for 72 consecutive quarters (including 3 ties).