NBC NIGHTLY NEWS is Most-Watched Network Evening Newscast

"NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" was America's most-watched newscast for the week ending May 19, 2014 and the May 2014 sweep period, according to Nielsen Media Research data.

Nightly delivered its biggest May sweep audience and widest lead over ABC in three years (since 2011). Nightly posted the largest year-over-year growth in total viewers (+6%, or +467,000) and widened its advantage over ABC by +15% versus May 2013. The NBC broadcast remains the top choice for viewers 18-49, leading ABC by +10% (+135,000) and CBS by +38% (+412,000) for the sweep period.

Season-to-date, Nightly is posting its biggest total viewer audience (9.236 million) since the 2005-06 season and its largest advantage over ABC (+1.087 million) since the 2009-10 season.

May 2014 Sweep Highlights:

Nightly averaged 8.410 million total viewers, +11% (+830,000) ahead of ABC World News and +30% (+1,946,000) more than CBS Evening News.

Nightly delivered a 1.6 A25-54 rating, +23% (+3 tenths) more than CBS.

Nightly averaged 1.959 million A25-54 viewers, leading CBS by +26% (+399,000).

Nightly delivered a 1.2 A18-49 rating, +9% (+1 tenth) more than ABC and +33% (+3 tenths) more than CBS.

Nightly averaged 1.500 million A18-49 viewers, leading ABC by +10% (+135,000) and CBS by +38% (+412,000).

Weekly Highlights:

Nightly delivered 7.850 million total viewers, +6% (+467,000) more than ABC World News and +31% (+1,853,000) ahead of CBS Evening News.

Nightly averaged a 1.5 A25-54 rating, leading CBS by +25% (+3 tenths).

Among A25-54 (000), NIGHTLY averaged 1.790 million viewers and outperformed CBS by +24% (+344,000).

Nightly averaged a 1.1 A18-49 rating, tied with ABC and +38% (+3 tenths) ahead of CBS.

In A18-49 viewers, Nightly averaged 1.357 million viewers, leading ABC by +1% (+11,000) and CBS by +31% (+319,000).

Trends:

Nightly has won in total viewers for 245 consecutive weeks, and in 292 of the past 293 weeks.

Nightly has been #1 in A18-49 rating for 302 consecutive weeks.

Patrick Burkey is the executive producer of "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams." For more news and information, go to www.nbcnightlynews.com, Facebook.com/NBCNightlyNews, or follow on Twitter @nbcnightlynews.

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