WORLD NEWS Up the Most in Total Viewers & the Demo Compared to Last Year

For the week of January 20, 2014, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 9.174 million Total Viewers and a 2.1 rating/7 share/2.479 million in Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. "World News" improved over the previous week (8.468 million and 2.175 million, respectively, on w/o 1/13/14) in both Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 25-54 (+14%). In fact, "World News" hit a new season high in Adults 25-54 to turn in its best news demo performance in nearly 3 years - since w/o 1/31/11.

For the 3rd time in the last 4 weeks, "World News" built on the year-ago week in both Total Viewers (+11%) and Adults 25-54 (+17%) - 8.258 million and 2.118 million, respectively, on w/o 1/21/13. In fact, growing the most year to year in Adult 25-54 viewers, "World News" (+361,000) nearly tripled the combined increase (+191%; +124,000) of both "CBS Evening News" (+84,000) and "NBC Nightly News" (+40,000).

"World News" ranked No. 1 twice during the course of the week in Adults 25-54, leading "NBC Nightly News" on Wednesday by +6,000 demo viewers (2.449 million vs. 2.443 million on 1/22/14) and on Friday by +262,000 demo viewers (2.523 million vs. 2.261 million on 1/24/14). In fact, leading the evening for the 3rd week in a row, "World News'" head-to-head victory on Friday produced its largest single-day advantage over a "Nightly News" telecast in more than 5 years - since 11/18/08, based on regular telecasts.

"World News" cut its Adults 25-54 gap with "NBC Nightly News" week to week (-31% - 106,000 vs. 154,000), to score its closest news demo performance with the NBC program since season premiere week 4 months ago - since w/o 9/23/13.

"World News" slashed its Adults 25-54 margin with "NBC Nightly News" from the year-ago week by three-quarters (-75% - 106,000 vs. 427,000). In fact, "World News" has narrowed its year-to-year news demo margin with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits for the last 5 weeks.

Season to date, "World News" is up versus the same point last season in both Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 25-54 (+1%), delivering its most-watched season in 4 years - since the 2009-10 season. "World News" also stands as the only evening newscast to improve its demo performance from the previous season compared to "CBS Evening News" (-8%) and "NBC Nightly News" (-3%).

In addition, "World News" is narrowing its season margin with "NBC Nightly News" in Adults 25-54 by double digits (-26% - 264,000 vs. 359,000) compared to its season margin from the same point last year. In fact, "World News" is posting its smallest news demo margin with the NBC program in 5 years - since the 2008-09 season.

"World News" has nearly doubled its Adults 25-54 lead over "CBS Evening News" versus its year-ago season lead (+96% - 335,000 vs. 171,000).

For the week, "ABC World News" beat the "CBS Evening News" by 1.319 million Total Viewers and by 362,000 Adults 25-54.

"ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" airs at 6:30 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network. Michael Corn is the executive producer of the broadcast. Follow Diane Sawyer and the "World News" team online:@DianeSawyer; @ABCWorldNews; facebook.com/DianeSawyer; facebook.com/WorldNews.