via press release:
Ratings Report for ABC News’ “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”
For Sunday, June 21, 2009
FOR THE 20TH STRAIGHT WEEK, “THIS WEEK” CLOSES
TOTAL VIEWING GAP WITH “MEET THE PRESS”
“THIS WEEK” CUTS TOTAL VIEWING GAP WITH “MEET” BY 89%
AND DEMO GAP BY 84% VS. LAST YEAR
For the 20th consecutive week, “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” cut into NBC’s “Meet the Press’” total viewing lead – this time by 1.98 million Total Viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. On Sunday, June 21, “This Week” closed the total viewing gap with “Meet” by 89% (240,000 in 2009 vs. 2,220,000 in 2008) versus the same weeks last year. In the Adults 25-54 demographic, ABC closed the gap with NBC by 84% (120,000 in 2009 vs. 730,000 in 2008).
Compared to the same week last year, “This Week” held steady in Total Viewers, while “Meet” declined -43%. Week to week, ABC again was flat, as NBC dropped -17%.
Year to date, “This Week” continues to cut the total viewing and demo gaps with “Meet” as well. Among Total Viewers for 2009 so far, “This Week” has closed the gap with “Meet” by 53% (700,000 in 2009 vs. 1,490,000 in 2008) compared to last year. In Adults 25-54, the gap has been cut by 36% versus the same time period last year (320,000 in 2009 vs. 500,000 in 2008).
Season to date, “This Week” also continues to dominate the second-place position among Total Viewers and A25-54 and to experience the most growth among Total Viewers compared to the other Sunday shows versus last year. Averaging 3.17 million Total Viewers, the ABC show versus last year is up 15% and +7% in the demo, with 1.08 million Adults 25-54.
George Stephanopoulos is the anchor of “This Week” and Ian Cameron is the executive producer. The program airs Sundays on the ABC Television Network.
(Week of June 15, 2009)
TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54 MM/Rtg
ABC “THIS WEEK” 2,320,000 690,000/.6
NBC “MEET THE PRESS” 2,560,000 810,000/.7
CBS “FACE THE NATION” 2,510,000 900,000/.7
FOX “FOX NEWS SUNDAY” 920,000 370,000/.3
Source: NTI
“This Week” is a much better show than “Meet the Press” although the biggest fault of both shows is that they trot out the same politicians every week. Please, the need to interview new people with unique ideas is strong. I am tired of seeing the same Republicans just saying “NO” to the President and the same members of the Obama administration rebutting them. I know exactly what John McCain’s answers will be. Sometimes I think the “news” anchors for these shows are too cozy with the guests (with their faux hard hitting questions) especially when they don’t ask any honest follow up questions. When someone gives obvious misinformation call them on it. Sometimes you get the impression that the hosts fear that a guest will never return. I don’t want them to be rude like O’Reilly but, come on, if a guest, of either party, says something you know is incorrect call them on it.
My favorite part of “This Week” is “In Memoriam,” a tribute to the famous who have died and to the brave men and women who are dying in the war. God bless ABC for continuing this acknowledgement (remember the squawking from the Bush Administration when “Nightline” had the names of the dead read aloud). Watching that part of the show breaks my heart. Our area recently had two soldiers, a week apart, die in the Afhghanistan/Iraq War and it was nice to see that their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families was given a respectful acknowledgement on a national network. We should never forget.
I used to watch This Week pretty regularly years ago, then I switched to Meet The Press. Then, about a year ago Fareed Zakaria GPS started on CNN and that is pretty much my new regular show, although it’s broadcast relatively late for a Sunday news show- 1:00 p.m. EST. I wonder how that’s doing in the ratings.