ABC's NIGHTLINE Wins 2015 February Sweep in Total Viewers

ABC News' "Nightline" won the 2015 February Sweep in Total Viewers (1.760 million) to claim its first-ever February sweep victory in its new time-slot, based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research. In fact, "Nightline" won its 2nd consecutive sweep and its 3rd in the last 4. "Nightline" beat NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (+449,000 - 1.311 million) and CBS' "The Late Late Show" (+144,000 - 1.616 million) during the month.

In addition, "Nightline" beat CBS' "The Late Late Show" during the 2015 February sweep in Adults 25-54 (+209,000) and Adults 18-49 (+143,000).

"Nightline" improved on its February 2014 Sweep performance (1.593 million, 684,000, and 499,000, respectively) in Total Viewer (+10%), Adults 25-54 (+5%) and Adults 18-49 (+7%) to post its strongest February performance yet Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. Further, "Nightline" drew ABC's largest overall February sweep audience in the time slot in 8 years - since February 2007.

In addition, "Nightline" stood as the only program to grow from the year-ago sweep compared to NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (-54%/-56%/-61%, respectively) and CBS' "The Late Late Show" (-12%/-25%/-28%, respectively).

Week of February 23, 2015:

ABC News' "Nightline" won the week in Total Viewers (1.714 million) during the week of February 23, 2015, based on Live +Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. The ABC News late program has ranked No. 1 for the 3rd week in a row and in 17 of the past 19 weeks. "Nightline led CBS' "The Late Late Show" (+440,000) and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (+94,000).

"Nightline" turned in year-to-year increases (1.567 million, 644,000, and 498,000, respectively, on w/o 2/24/14) for the 2nd straight week across all key target demos: Total Viewers (+9%), Adults 25-54 (+2%) and Adults 18-49 (+2%).

For the 5th week in a row, "Nightline" held the week's top telecast in Total Viewers (2.061 million - 2/26/15), outdelivering every telecast of the week of CBS' "The Late Late Show" and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers."

Season to date, ABC News' "Nightline" ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers (1.708 million), outdelivering CBS' average of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson"/"The Late Late Show"/"The Talk - After Dark" (+284,000) and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (+147,000).

Billy Gardell was the guest host for CBS' "The Late Late Show" on Mon-Tues, while Nunal Nayyar was guest from Wed-Fri.

ABC News' "Nightline" is anchored by Dan Harris, Juju Chang and Byron Pitts. Roxanna Sherwood is executive producer, and Steven Baker is Senior Broadcast Producer. The program airs weeknights from 12:35-1:05 a.m., ET 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.

February 2015 Sweep:

PROGRAM AVERAGES TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54(000)/Rtg A18-49(000)/Rtg

ABC "Nightline" 1,760,000 715,000/0.6 536,000/0.4

CBS "The Late Late Show" 1,311,000 506,000/0.4 393,000/0.3

NBC "Late Night" 1,616,000 759,000/0.6 652,000/0.5

Week of February 23, 2015:

PROGRAM AVERAGES TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54(000)/Rtg A18-49(000)/Rtg

ABC "Nightline" 1,714,000 659,000/0.6 506,000/0.4

CBS "The Late Late Show" 1,274,000 471,000/0.4 362,000/0.3

NBC "Late Night" 1,620,000 762,000/0.6 649,000/0.5

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 2/23/15, 2/16/15 and 2/24/14. Most Current: 2014-2015 Season (9/22/14 - 3/1/15) and 2013-2014 Season (9/23/13 - 3/2/14). Most Current: February 2015 Sweep (1/29-2/25/15), February 2014 Sweep (1/30-2/26/14) and February 2014 Sweep (10/30-11/26/14). Sweep periods (February, February, May and July). NOTE: Due to the digital transition, the 2009 February sweep was 3/5 - 4/1/09. Averages based on regular telecasts. "Nightline" premiered in its new time period in January 2013. *NBC's year-ago week averages based on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

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