WORLD NEWS Continues to Surge in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54

By: Caryn Robbins Oct. 22, 2013

For the week of October 14, 2013, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 7.768 million Total Viewers and a 1.7 rating/6 share/2.000 million in Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. Growing over the previous week (7.251 million and 1.812 million, respectively, on w/o 10/7/13) in both Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 25-54 (+10%) to hit season highs, "World News" posted its strongest numbers in 5 weeks - since w/o 9/9/13.

"World News" was also the only evening newscast to deliver week-to-week increases in both Nielsen measures as "CBS Evening News (-1%-1%) was down, while "NBC Nightly News" was mixed (+3%/-4%).

Compared to the year-ago week (7.047 million and 1.710 million, respectively, on w/o 10/15/12), "World News" improved by double-digits in Total Viewers (+10%) and Adults 25-54 (+17%). "World News" grew the most year to year in Total Viewers and stood as the only evening newscast to see gains in Adults 25-54 compared to "CBS Evening News (+4%-14%) and "NBC Nightly News" (+7%/flat).

In Adults 25-54, "World News" beat "NBC Nightly News" to rank No. 1 on Monday (+144,000 - 2.326 million vs. 2.182 million on 10/14/13) and Friday (+90,000 - 1.836 million vs. 1.746 million on 10/18/13). In fact, it was the first time this season that "World News" beat "NBC Nightly News" in the key adult news demo twice during the course of a week.

In addition, "World News'" Monday airing stood as its top telecast of the season in both Total Viewers (8.217 million) and Adults 25-54 (2.326 million).

"World News" cut its week-to-week margins with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits in Total Viewers (-29% - 662,000 vs. 927,000) and by more than half in Adults 25-54 (-61% - 168,000 vs. 435,000).

"World News" also reduced in its year-to-year gaps with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits in Total Viewers (-18% - 662,000 vs. 805,000) and by more than half in Adults 25-54 (-63% - 168,000 vs. 459,000).

Season to date, "World News" is up Versus the same point last season in both Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%), delivering its best overall viewer start to a season in 4 years - since the 2009-10 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" (+4%).

For the week, "ABC World News" outperformed the "CBS Evening News" by its largest margins of the season in both Total Viewers (1.483 million) and Adults 25-54 (562,000). In fact, it was "World News'" largest news demo advantage over the CBS program in nearly 3 years - since w/o 12/27/10.

"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.