ABC's GMA Delivers Best Season Audience in 22 Years

By: Caryn Robbins Dec. 19, 2013

ABC News' "Good Morning America" finished as the No. 1 morning newscast in Total Viewers (6.000 million) and Adults 25-54 (2.352 million) for the week of December 9, 2013, according to Nielsen Media Research. Winning every week of the 12-week season to date, "GMA" beat NBC's "Today" (5.460 million and 2.347 million, respectively) during the week by 540,000 Total Viewers and by 5,000 Adults 25-54. "GMA" widened its Total Viewer lead over the No. 2-ranked "Today" compared to its lead on the year-ago week (+427,000 on w/o 12/10/12) by 26%. Additionally, GoodMorningAmerica.com on Yahoo! reached 22 million users last month. It is the No. 1 morning news website and beats Today.com by millions of users each month.

On Monday (12/9/13), GMA turned in its most-watched Adult 25-54 telecast (2.476 million) since the royal wedding more than 2 1/2 years ago, and 2nd-highest in more than 4 1/2 years - since 4/29/11 and 3/3/09, respectively.

"GMA" has ranked No. 1 every week in Total Viewers for 17 months (the last 69 weeks - since w/o 8/13/12). "GMA's" 69 consecutive weeks at the top represents its longest stretch at No. 1 in more than 22 years - since before the 1991-92 season; Nielsen's electronic database started in September 1991.

In Adults 25-54, "GMA" has ranked No. 1 for the last 22 weeks, its longest news demo winning streak in more than 20 years - since w/o 2/1/93 to w/o 6/28/93 during the 1992-93 season.

"GMA" improved week to week (5.874 million, 2.300 million and 1.640 million, respectively, on w/o 12/2/13) in Total Viewers (+2%), Adults 25-54 (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+2%), hitting season highs in both key adult demos for the 2nd consecutive week. In fact, "GMA" has built on its news demo audience for the last 8 weeks to attract its largest Adults 25-54 audience in nearly 7 years - since w/o 2/12/07.

For the 4th week in a row, "GMA" registered double-digit increases over the prior year in all key target demos: Total Viewers (+18%), Adults 25-54 (+24%) and Adults 18-49 (+17%) - 5.091 million, 1.890 million and 1.427 million, respectively, on w/o 12/10/12.

Season to date, "GMA" stands as the No. 1 morning news program for the 2nd straight year in both Total Viewers and Adults 25-54. "GMA" is leading NBC's "Today" by 739,000 Total Viewers and 65,000 Adults 25-54. In fact, "GMA" has widened its Total Viewer season lead over "Today" versus the same point last season by 43% (739,000 vs. 518,000) to post its largest season margin in more than 22 years - since at least the 1991-92 season; Nielsen's electronic database started on September of 1991.

Growing for the 3rd year in a row, "GMA" is up over the same point last season in both Total Viewers (+13%) and Adults 25-54 (+11%). In fact, "GMA" is seeing its largest overall season audience in more than 22 years and best Adults 25-54 performance in 8 years - since before the 1991-92 season and the 2005-06 seasons, respectively.

During the week, "GMA" nearly doubled the performance of "CBS This Morning" in Total Viewers (+88%), while more than doubling in Adults 25-54 (+115%) and Adults 18-49 (+114%). In addition, "GMA" outperformed the CBS program by its largest Adults 25-54 advantage (1.276 million) in more than 7 years - since w/o 10/02/06.

WEEK OF 12/9/13 TOTAL VIEWERS ADULTS 25-54 ADULTS 18-49 HOUSEHOLDS

GOOD MORNING AMERICA 6,000,000 1.964/14; 2,352,000 1.3/11; 1,676,000 4.5/16

TODAY 5,460,000 1.959/13; 2,347,000 1.5/12; 1,863,000 3.9/14

CBS THIS MORNING 3,195,000 0.914/ 6; 1,095,000 0.6/ 5; 785,000 2.4/ 8

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 12/9/13, 12/2/13 and 12/10/12. Most Current: 2013-2014 Season (9/23 - 12/15/13) and 2012-2013 Season (9/24 - 12/16/12). All averages based on regular telecasts.