NBC Nightly News Reigns as America's Most Watched Evening News

NBC is No. 1 for evening news for a 17th consecutive year, also topping total viewers for 24 consecutive quarters.

According to Nielsen Media Research data, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams continued as America’s most-watched network evening newscast in both total viewers and adults 25-54 for the week ending Sept. 20, 2013, the third quarter of 2013, and the 2012-2013 season.

2012-2013 Season:

• Nightly was No. 1 for the 2012-13 season in total viewers and all key demographics.

• Nightly averaged 8.348 million total viewers, +9 percent (+713,000) ahead of ABC World News’ 7.635 million viewers and +30 percent (+1,929,000) more than CBS Evening News’ 6.419 million viewers.

• Nightly averaged a 1.9 A25-54 rating, +12% (+2 tenths) more than ABC’s 1.7 rating and +36% (+5 tenths) more than CBS’ 1.4 rating.

• Among A25-54 (000), Nightly averaged 2.226 million viewers, +14 percent (+266,000) more than ABC’s 1.960 million and +30 percent (+510,000) ahead of CBS’ 1.716 million.

Nightly has been No. 1 in:

• Total Viewers for 17 consecutive seasons

• Rating Adults 25-54 for 17 consecutive seasons (1 tie)

• Viewers A25-54 for 6 consecutive seasons

• Rating Women 25-54 for 5 consecutive seasons

• Rating Men 25-54 for 17 consecutive seasons

• Adults 18-49 for 17 consecutive seasons

• Men 18-49 for 17 consecutive seasons

• Women 18-49 for 6 consecutive seasons (1 tie)

3rd Quarter 2013:

• Nightly was No. 1 for the quarter in total viewers and all key demographics.

• Nightly averaged 7.659 million total viewers, +6% (+457,000) more than ABC World News’ 7.202 million viewers and +29% (+1,704,000) more than CBS Evening News’ 5.955 million viewers.

• Nightly averaged a 1.6 A25-54 rating, +7% (+1 tenth) more than ABC’s 1.5 rating and +33% (+4 tenths) more than CBS’ 1.2 rating

• In A25-54 (000), Nightly averaged 1.961 million viewers, +7% (+127,000) more than ABC’s 1.834 million and +33% (+487,000) ahead of CBS’ 1.474 million.

Nightly has been No. 1 in:

• Total Viewers for 24 consecutive quarters

• Rating Adults 25-54 for 24 consecutive quarters (including 2 ties)

• Viewers A25-54 for 23 consecutive quarters

• Rating Women 25-54 for 21 straight quarters (includes 1 tie)

• Rating Men 25-54 for 69 consecutive quarters (including 2 ties)

• Adults 18-49 for 24 straight quarters

• Women 18-49 for 22 straight quarters (1 tie)

• Men 18-49 for 69 consecutive quarters

Week Ending 9/20/13:

• Nightly delivered 8.105 million total viewers, +567,000 more than ABC World News’ 7.538 million and +1,942,000 more than CBS Evening News’ 6.163 million.

• Week to week, Nightly widened its total viewer advantage over ABC (+567,000 vs. +356,000).

• Nightly averaged a 5.6/11 Household rating, ahead of ABC’s  5.2/11 and CBS’ 4.1/8.

• Nightly delivered a 1.7 A25-54 rating, +1 tenth ahead of ABC’s 1.6 and +5 tenths more than CBS’s 1.2 rating.

• Among A25-54 (000), Nightly averaged 2.083 million viewers, +173,000 ahead of World News’ 1.910 million, and +670,000 ahead of Evening News’ 1.413 million.

• Nightly has won in total viewers for 210 consecutive weeks, and in 257 of the past 258 weeks.

• Nightly has won in viewers A25-54 for 251 of the past 252 weeks.

Patrick Burkey is the executive producer of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. For more news and information, go to www.nbcnightlynews.com, Facebook.com/NBCNightlyNews, or follow on Twitter @nbcnightlynews.