It looks like Diane Sawyer's debut on "World News" lifted ratings above average based on the preliminary Nielsen results where 8.934 million people watched ABC from 6:30p to 7p on Monday night.
Disclaimer: that's much more preliminary than typical overnight numbers for primetime because all its doing is measuring every ABC affiliate for that time period, and not every ABC affiliate carries "World News" from 6:30p-7p. Official final numbers will not be available until next week.
This season 'World News" is averaging around 8 million viewers and its Monday average is 8.4 million.
She was very professional and likeable. I think they made the right choice.
I’ll stick with Fox News. Brett does an excellent job.
As mgbhighlander said, she was very likeable and somewhat objective when reporting on the Health Bill, objectivity is no longer seen at the various network news outlets. I certainly hope she debunks Brian Williams and that left-wing-nutcase news organization.
Brian Williams is in no way biased..he is very objective and the best news anchor in the business and I think the ratings reflect that…number 1..FYI today show is number one as well as meet the press..so..NBC tops news..
Not really buying that Sawyer provided a lift. You’re comparing a Monday night in December – cold weather, shortest day of the year – to an average of the entire fall. More people are watching TV in December.
Did Brian Williams also do better last night than his Monday average for the season? Without looking I would guess he probably did.
Sawyer did a fine job last night and I have decided to tune into ABC for a few nights. Since Tom Brokaw, I’ve not been satisfied with evening newscasts, but have been watching Katie for the past few months. On a side note, I love Olbermann’s opinions and will continue to stick with MSNBC after 7 pm. And will FOX EVER stop with the “Fair and Balanced” B.S. line? I guess it doesn’t matter, since everyone knows how slanted their reporting is.
Even Fox News knows they are not a legetimate news organization..
I miss Diane on GMA, but was very impressed with her. She is a natural and I am hoping this is going to aid both her and Katie with credibility. I hope they do not go for the jugular as they did to Katie when she started. I will have to switch back and forth between the two of them to get my news. Brian Williams just does not do it for me for some reason; I think too stiff. Good Job Diane!
I was always a little uncomfortable watching Brian Williams. Steven makes a good point…he is just too stiff to watch. But I’d say it’s a pretty even competition now between the networks.
I’m pretty impressed with Diane Sawyer. I’ve always thought that ABC World News is/was the best primetime news show. Yes, Fox is not very balanced, but neither is MSNBC. NBC and CBS (IMO) tend to lean a little left. For being a rather gay-friendly network (not that there is anything wrong with that), ABC is the one that stays pretty balanced with its news. CNN is better too.
From someone who knows both people I must say I miss Charlie’s genuineness and warm heart. He is a good, good man. On the contrary, I find Diane to be only concerned with herself. She is not genuine nor compassionate.
Brian Williams stiff??? He’s doing the news and its depressing 95% of the time :-0 Do you want him to smile about it?
Brian is one of the coolest guys i ever met. Hung out with him in Buffalo when Bruce Springsteen flew him out on his jet to see the bands final show of the 2007-2009 World Tour. Brian is one funny dude. Oh and he kicks ass and leaves the woman in the dust as far as depressing World news goes. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
Brian Williams may be the coolest guy in the world (as is shown when he does Leno or Letterman). But he appears stiff on network news. Sorry, for a second night I enjoyed Diane Sawyer’s presentation of the news. But…that’s why we all have choices, right?
Let’s see, 6:30-7:00pm PST is O’Reilly? or Hannity on Fox NEWS? Diane Sawyer will do fine. And she looks great; it’s almost hard to believe that she worked in the Nixon administration.
Diane Sawyer will do fine on ABC News.
I think she can beat NBC and for sure CBS.
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