ABC's NIGHTLINE Takes Top Spot in Late-Night in Key Demos

For the week of November 12, 2012, ABC's NIGHTLINE finished as the No. 1 program in broadcast late-night for the 3rd week in a row in all three key measures, Total Viewers (3.868 million), Adults 25-54 (1.430 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.079 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. Further, "Nightline" has been the top late-night program in broadcast in all 8 weeks this season in viewers and in the key adult news demo.

"Nightline" turned in the most-watched late-night telecast (4.347 million) of the week on Monday (11/12/12), while airing the week's No. 1 telecast in Adults 25-54 (1.600 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.230 million) on Friday (11/16/12).

Season to date, "Nightline" ranks No. 1 among the late-night broadcast programs in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, ahead of both NBC's "The Tonight Show" and CBS' "The Late Show." This marks the 3rd straight year that the ABC program is taking the top spot in all 3 measures. 

During the week of November 12th, "Nightline" kept viewers up to date on the Middle East conflict with reports from Israel and Gaza; reported the latest in the General Petraeus sex scandal; and featured reports on: a book that chronicles new details on Michael Jackson's private struggles; Barbara Walters' interview with Kirstie Alley; the police hunt for antivirus software pioneer, John McAfee; a little known yet deadly and widespread eating disorder; the team of researchers trekking across the globe on the hunt for Bigfoot; people adopting babies from Craigslist; the Arctic ice melt; and illegal animal trading.

ABC News' "Nightline" is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Bill Weir. Juju Chang is a correspondent. Jeanmarie Condon is the Executive Producer. The program airs weeknights from 11:35 p.m., ET to 12:00 a.m. on the ABC Television Network.  Together with "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Nightline" is part of ABC's winning late night strategy of airing news and entertainment programming. 

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 12, 2012:
 
PROGRAM AVERAGES    TOTAL VIEWERS    A25-54(000)/ Rtg    A18-49(000)/ Rtg 
ABC "Nightline"       3,868,000       1,430,000/ 1.2      1,079,000/ 0.9
CBS "Late Show"       3,108,000       1,229,000/ 1.0        929,000/ 0.7
NBC "Tonight Show"    3,220,000       1,226,000/ 1.0        927,000/ 0.7

Source:  The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 11/12/12, 11/5/12 & 11/14/11.  Most Current - 2011-2012 Season (9/24 – 11/18/12) and 2011-2012 Season (9/19 – 11/20/11).