WORLD NEWS TONIGHT is Most-Watched Newscast for the Week Among Viewers

ABC News' WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH DAVID MUIR ranked as the No. 1 evening newscast in Total Viewers (8.544 million) for the week of October 2, 2017, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. The ABC evening newscast led "NBC Nightly News" (8.174 million) by 370,000. David Muir anchored live from Las Vegas Monday through Wednesday after the deadly shooting.

"World News Tonight" scored week-to-week gains (8.213 million, 1.753 million and 1.183 million, respectively, on w/o 9/25/17) in Total Viewers (+4%), Adults 25-54 (+5%) and Adults 18-49 (+6%), hitting 4-week highs across the board - since w/o 9/4/17.

"World News Tonight" improved on the year-ago week (9/26/17) in Total Viewers (+3% - 8.544 million vs. 8.276 million) and Adults 25-54 (+2% - 1.843 million vs. 1.801 million).

Two weeks into the season, "World News Tonight" ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers at this point of the season for the 2nd year in a row. In fact, "World News Tonight" is increasing its lead over "NBC Nightly News" from last season by 40% (390,000 vs. 278,000). In addition, "World News Tonight" is cutting its season margins with the NBC program nearly in half (-49% - 109,000 vs. 212,000).

"World News Tonight" is delivering its strongest Total Viewer start to a season in 14 years - since the 2003-04 season. "World News Tonight" is up in Total Viewers (+2% - 8.419 million vs. 8.256 million) and Adults 25-54 (+1% - 1.809 million vs. 1.794 million) compared to the first two weeks of last season.

"World News Tonight" cut its year-to-year gaps with "NBC Nightly News" in Adults 25-54 (-35% - 147,000 vs. 226,000) and Adults 18-49 (-13% - 164,000 vs. 188,000).

For the week, "World News Tonight" defeated the "CBS Evening News" by 2.083 million Total Viewers, by 432,000 Adults 25-54 and by 304,000 Adults 18-49.

NOTE: Due to NFL on Thursday (10/05/17), "CBS Evening News" was retitled to "CBS Evening News" and was excluded from the weekly averages. CBS' averages are based on 4 days (Mon.-Wed. and Fri.).

ABC "World News Tonight with David Muir" airs 6:30-7:00 p.m. EDT on The ABC Television Network. Almin Karamehmedovic is the executive producer of the broadcast.

EVENING NEWS (Week of October 2, 2017)

TOTAL VIEWERS ADULTS 25-54 ADULTS 18-49 HOUSEHOLDS

ABC WORLD NEWS

TONIGHT 8,544,000 1.5/7; 1,843,000 1.0/6; 1,252,000 5.6/12

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 8,174,000 1.6/8; 1,990,000 1.1/6; 1,416,000 5.4/12

CBS EVENING NEWS 6,461,000 1.2/5; 1,411,000 0.7/4; 948,000 4.3/9

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 10/2/17, 9/25/17 and 9/19/16. Most Current: 2016-2017 Season (9/25 - 10/8/17) and 2016-2017 Season (9/19 - 10/2/16). Averages based on regular telecasts.

Photo credit: ABC News