ABC WORLD NEWS Averages 8 Million Total Viewers for the Week

For the week of October 21, 2013, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 8.016 million Total Viewers and a 1.6 rating/6 share/1.973 million in Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. Growing its Total Viewer audience (+3% - 7.768 million on w/o 10/14/13) for the 2nd week in a row to hit a season high, "World News" attracted its largest overall audience in 6 months - since w/o 4/15/13.

For the 2nd straight week, "World News" improved on the same week last year in both Total Viewers (+6%) and Adults 25-54 (+4%) - 7.587 million and 1.890 million on w/o 10/22/12. In addition, "World News" was the only evening newscast to grow year to year in Adults 25-54 compared to "CBS Evening News" (-7%) and "NBC Nightly News" (-2%).

"World News" turned in its two most-watched telecasts of the season on Monday (8.372 million on 10/21/13) and Tuesday (8.307 million on 10/22/13).

For the 2nd week in a row, "World News" decreased its Total Viewer margin with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits Versus the previous week (-16% - 557,000 vs. 662,000) to score its closest performance with the NBC program this season.

For the 3rd time in the 5 weeks of the season, "World News" narrowed its year-ago Adults 25-54 gap with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits (-37% - 203,000 vs. 321,000).

Season to date, "World News" is up Versus the same point last season in both Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%), delivering its best overall viewer start to a season in 5 years - since the 2008-09 season. "World News" is also up the most from the same point last season in the key adult news demo compared to "CBS Evening News" (-10%) and "NBC Nightly News" (+3%).

In addition, "World News" narrowed its season margin with "NBC Nightly News" in Adults 25-54 by 16% compared to its season margin at the same point last year. In fact, "World News" is posting its smallest news demo margin (246,000) with the NBC program in 5 years- since the 2008-09 season.

For the week, "ABC World News" beat the "CBS Evening News" by 1.198 million Total Viewers and by 382,000 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.

To post a comment, you must register and login.