via press release:
“Nightline” IS #1 AMONG ADULTS 18-49 & TOTAL VIEWERS—FIRST TIME EVER “Nightline” PLACES FIRST
FOR A NOVEMBER SWEEP IN TOTAL VIEWERS
FIRST TIME EVER “Nightline” PLACES FIRST AMONG A18-49 FOR ANY SWEEP
ABC News “Nightline” was #1 for the November sweep among Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers, outperforming NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” and CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman,” according to Nielsen Media Research. This marks the first time “Nightline” placed first among Total Viewers for a November sweep since at least 1993, which is as far back as records date. It also marks the first time “Nightline” placed first among Adults 18-49 in 16 years, since at least 1993, which is as far back as records date. This is the second consecutive sweep “Nightline” placed first among Total Viewers. Additionally, “Nightline” tied “Letterman” in the A 25-54 rating (1.3).
For the week of November 23, 2009, Nightline” again placed first among Total Viewers with 4.56 million, its best total viewer delivery of the season so far, outperforming “The Tonight Show” and “Letterman,” according to Nielsen Media Research. This is the fourth week in a row “Nightline” placed first among Total Viewers. It also marks the twenty-third consecutive week “Nightline” beat “The Tonight Show” among Total Viewers. This is the first time “Nightline” has beaten “The Tonight Show” among Total Viewers for twenty-three consecutive weeks since at least the 1991/92 season, which is as far as records date.Additionally, “Nightline” has beaten “The Tonight Show” for 10 consecutive weeks among A25-54. “Nightline” also tied “Letterman” in the A 25-54 rating (1.4) and the A18-49 rating (1.1).
“Nightline” continues to experience growth. Week to week, the program increased +10% among Total Viewers, 6%among A25-54 and 7% among A18-49. Season to date, “Nightline” is up +2% among Total Viewers while “The Tonight Show” in comparison has declined -49%. *Note: “Nightline” was based on a 2-day average (Mon-Tues), “Letterman” was based on a 3-day average (Mon-Wed), and “The Tonight Show” was based on a 4-day average (Mon-Thurs) for the week of 11/23.
ABC News’ “Nightline” is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Martin Bashir. John Donvan and Vicki Mabrey are correspondents. James Goldston is the executive producer. The program airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network.
(November 2009 Sweep)
TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54(000)/ Rtg A18-49(000)/ Rtg
ABC “Nightline” 4,150,000 1,640,000/ 1.3 1,380,000/ 1.0
CBS “Late Show” 4,120,000 1,670,000/ 1.3 1,310,000/ 1.0
NBC “Tonight” 2,390,000 1,330,000/ 1.1 1,300,000/ 1.0
(Week of November 23, 2009)
TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54(000)/ Rtg A18-49(000)/ Rtg
ABC “Nightline” 4,560,000 1,720,000/ 1.4 1,450,000/ 1.1
CBS “Late Show” 4,320,000 1,800,000/ 1.4 1,490,000/ 1.1
NBC “Tonight” 2,420,000 1,370,000/ 1.1 1,350,000/ 1.0
Source: NTI - - A25-54, Adults 18-49 & Total Viewers – Wks. of 11/23/09, 11/16/09 & 11/24/08 Live +SD. STD: Live +7 (where available) & Live +SD for 9/21/09-11/29/09 & 9/22/08-11/30/08. Nov Sweep: Live +7 (where available) & Live +SD for 10/29/09-11/25/09 & 10/30/08-11/26/08
Never underestimate these PR people. For sweeps, Nightline “beat” Tonight and Letterman in 18-49 because it had more viewers in that demo even though the ratings were the same. However, for the week of November 23, it “tied” Letterman for the 18-49 demo because the rating was the same, even though Letterman had more 18-49 viewers. And then, of course, there is the issue of 30 minutes versus a half hour. They guys spin so much they must spend their lives in a centrifuge. In any case, Conan’s ratings continue to look like fecal material.
jim… the guys here did a thing where they looked at some of the numbers for just the 11:30-12 half hour and there wasn’t much of a change. nightline truly is a dominant show right now.
I read that story, and while the change was not as much as they expected, there was still a difference. I have not doubt that for the first half hour of Letterman he beats Nightline in all these categories, even if it is not by a great deal. In any event, to call Nightline a “dominant” show is a bit of a stretch.
Jim is correct. Nightline still enjoys the PR advantage of being able to compare a 30 minute show to a one hour show during a time period when people are going to sleep, but the advantage wasn’t nearly as big as I had thought it would be.
Here was the look we got at the half hour ratings.
So, Conan did 30,000 more viewers last week over his November average while Nightline did 410,000 viewers better and Leno did 200,000 viewers better. On top of that, Nightline did 1.760 million viewers better than Conan during the Sweep and another 2.140 million viewers better last week. Conan is such a loser.
Leno = Letterman