ABC's WORLD NEWS Continues to Have its Best Season in Four Years

For the week of January 6, 2014, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 9.422 million Total Viewers and a 2.1 rating/7 share/2.461 million in Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. Growing over the previous week (9.195 million and 2.275 million, respectively, on w/o 12/30/13) in Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 25-54 (+8%) to hit new season highs, "World News" posted its strongest performance in both measures in nearly 3 years - since w/o 1/31/11.

"World News" turned in double-digit increases year to year in both Total Viewers (+11%) and Adults 25-54 (+11%) - 8.488 million and 2.224 million, respectively, on w/o 1/7/13.

"World News" ranked the No. 1 on Friday in Adults 25-54, leading NBC's "Nightly News" on the night by +170,000 demo viewers (2.251 million vs. 2.081 million on 1/10/14).

"World News" cut its Adults 25-54 margins with "NBC Nightly News" both week to week (-14% - 264,000 vs. 307,000) and year to year (-29% - 264,000 vs. 370,000). In addition, "World News" has narrowed its news demo margin from the year-ago week with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits in 4 of the last 5 weeks.

Season to date, "World News" is up versus the same point last season in Total Viewers (+2%), delivering its most-watched season in 4 years - since the 2009-10 season. In addition, "World News" is narrowing its season margin with "NBC Nightly News" in Adults 25-54 by double digits (-21% - 283,000 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 also significantly widened its Adults 25-54 lead over "CBS Evening News" versus its year-ago season lead by 83% (329,000 vs. 180,000).

For the week, "ABC World News" beat the "CBS Evening News" by 1.371 million Total Viewers and by 347,000 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.

EVENING NEWS (Week of January 6, 2014)

TOTAL VIEWERS ADULTS 25-54 ADULTS 18-49 HOUSEHOLDS

ABC WORLD NEWS 9,422,000 2.1/7; 2,461,000 1.3/5; 1,684,000 6.2/11

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 10,693,000 2.3/8; 2,725,000 1.6/6; 2,069,000 7.0/12

CBS EVENING NEWS 8,051,000 1.8/6; 2,114,000 1.1/4; 1,423,000 5.2/ 9

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 1/6/14, 12/30/13 and 1/7/13.