For the February 2011 Sweep, ABC News’ “Nightline” averaged 3.84 million in Total Viewers, 1.64 million in Adults 25-54 and 1.24 million in Adults 18-49, according to Nielsen Media Research. February 2011 represents the first time ever that “Nightline” ranked No. 1 in Adults 25-54 during a February sweeps period, beating both NBC’s “The Tonight Show” and CBS’ “The Late Show.” “Nightline” took the top spot in Adults 25-54 for the 2nd consecutive sweeps period as the ABC program also ranked No. 1 in November 2010.
“Nightline” was up by +4% in its Total Viewer count compared to February 2010, drawing its largest overall February sweep audience in 7 years – since February 2004.
“Nightline” topped CBS’ “The Late Show” by +80,000 Total Viewers (3.84 million vs. 3.76 million), attracting a larger overall audience than the CBS program for the first time during the course of a February sweeps period in 8 years – since February 2003.
For the 2nd February sweeps period in a row, “Nightline” bettered CBS’ “The Late Show” in Adults 18-49 (+40,000 – 1.24 million vs. 1.20 million). Furthermore, during any sweep, February 2011 stands as the 8th straight sweeps period and the 10th of the last 11 that “Nightline” outperformed the CBS program in Adults 18-49.
During the week of February 28, 2011, ABC News’ “Nightline” ranked No. 1 among Total Viewers (3.92 million), Adults 25-54 (1.64 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.25 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. In fact, “Nightline” ranked No. 1 across all key target demos for the 3rd time in the last 5 weeks.
Season to date, “Nightline” ranks first in late-night among Total Viewers and Adults 25-54. This is the first time that “Nightline” has been in first place at this point in the season since at least the 1993-94 season, when “Letterman” began on CBS. In addition, “Nightline” is up by +1% in Total Viewers and by +3% in Adults 25-54 season to date compared to the same point last year.
For the 2nd week in a row, “Nightline” improved over the same week last year in Total Viewers (+9%) and Adults 25-54 (+2%). Both “The Tonight Show” (-31% and -32%, respectively) and “The Late Show” (-1% and -7%, respectively) saw declines year to year.
ABC News’ “Nightline” is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Bill Weir. John Donvan and Vicki Mabrey are correspondents. Jeanmarie Condon is the Executive Producer. The program airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network.
(February 2011 Sweep)
TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54(000)/ Rtg A18-49(000)/ Rtg
ABC “Nightline” 3,840,000 1,640,000/ 1.3 1,240,000/ 0.9
CBS “Late Show” 3,760,000 1,630,000/ 1.3 1,200,000/ 0.9
NBC “Tonight Show” 3,940,000 1,600,000/ 1.3 1,260,000/ 1.0
(Week of February 28, 2011)
TOTAL VIEWERS A25-54(000)/ Rtg A18-49(000)/ Rtg
ABC “Nightline” 3,920,000 1,640,000/ 1.3 1,250,000/ 0.9
CBS “Late Show” 3,620,000 1,570,000/ 1.3 1,190,000/ 0.9
NBC “Tonight Show” 3,830,000 1,570,000/ 1.3 1,210,000/ 0.9
(Source: ABC – The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 & Adults 18-49 Live+SD weeks of 2/28/11, 2/21/11 & 3/1/10. Live+7 (where available) & Live+SD for Season-to-date 10-11 vs. 09-10 (9/2/10-3/4/11 vs. 9/21/09-3/5/10). February 2011 Sweep (2/3-3/2/11) & February 2010 Sweep (2/4-3/3/10). November 2010 Sweep (10/28-11/24/10). Sweep periods (November, February, May and July).
