ABC News' THIS WEEK is No. 1 in Total Viewers

On March 2, 2014, ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" ranked No. 1 for the 2nd straight week in both Total Viewers (3.665 million) and Adults 25-54 (1.284 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. Notably, "This Week" scored its first back-to-back wins in Total Viewers in nearly 16 years (since 4/19/98 and 4/26/98) and more than 4 years in Adults 25-54 (since 8/2/09 and 8/9/09), based on regular telecasts.

Growing by double-digits for the 2nd week in a row (3.146 million and 963,000, respectively, for 2/23/14) in both Total Viewers (+16%) and Adults 25-54 (+33%) to hit a new season highs, "This Week" turned in its strongest numbers in more than 5 years - since 1/11/09 and 1/18/09, respectively. Further, "This Week" scored the top performance in Adults 25-54 (1.284 million) for any public affairs program this season.

"This Week" outperformed CBS' "Face the Nation" by its largest Total Viewer advantage (329,000) in 1 1/2 years and biggest Adults 25-54 lead (331,000) in nearly 4 years - since 9/2/12 and 6/27/10, respectively.

"This Week" beat NBC's "Meet the Press" by 473,000 Total Viewers and by 338,000 Adults 25-54, leading the NBC program by its largest news demo margin in more than 16 years - since 8/31/97, based on regular telecasts.

"This Week" posted strong increases year-to-year (2.846 million and 854,000, respectively on 3/3/13) in both Total Viewers (+29%) and Adults 25-54 (+50%). In fact, "This Week" has improved on the year-ago Sunday for the last 5 weeks in both measures. The ABC public affairs program was also up the most from its year-earlier telecast compared to CBS' "Face the Nation" (+3%/+17%), NBC's "Meet the Press" (-8%/-4%) and Fox's "Fox News Sunday" (+4%/-7%).

Season to date, "This Week" is up in Total Viewers (+11%) and Adults 25-54 (+7%) versus its year-ago season averages. Growing in both measures for the 2nd year in a row, "This Week" is delivering its strongest performance in 5 years - since the 2008-09 season. In addition, "This Week" is up the most from the same point last season in both Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 versus CBS' "Face the Nation" (+1%/+1%), NBC's "Meet the Press" (-5%/-9%) and Fox's "Fox News Sunday" (flat/-12%).

In addition, "This Week" leads NBC's "Meet the Press" this season in Total Viewers (+7,000), beating the NBC program during a season for the first time in 17 years - since the 1996-97 season.

Follow "This Week" on Twitter @ThisWeekABC.

Sunday, March 2, 2014 TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54 (000)/Rtg

ABC "THIS WEEK" 3,665,000 1,284,000/1.1

NBC "MEET THE PRESS" 3,192,000 946,000/0.8

CBS "FACE THE NATION" 3,336,000 953,000/0.8

CBS "FACE THE NATION-2" 1,847,000 424,000/0.4

FOX "FOX NEWS SUNDAY" 1,317,000 416,000/0.4

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI (Total Viewers and Adults 25-54); Live+SD for 3/2/14, 2/23/14and 3/3/13 or as dated. Most Current: 2013-2014 Season (9/23/13 - 3/2/14) and 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 - 3/3/13).

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