ABC News' WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH DAVID MUIR Is Most Watched Newscast In America

ABC News' "World News Tonight with David Muir" ranked as the No. 1 evening newscast in Total Viewers (8.781 million) the week of Dec. 17, 2018, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. "World News Tonight" outperformed "NBC Nightly News" (8.430 million) by 351,000, widening its lead from the previous week by 13% (vs. 310,000 for w/o 12/10/18) to a 10-week high - since w/o 10/8/18. "World News Tonight" has won 12 of the 13 weeks of the season in Total Viewers.

On Tuesday (12/18/18), "World News Tonight" ranked No. 1 across the board, leading "NBC Nightly News" by 719,000 Total Viewers (8.961 million vs. 8.242 million), by 56,000 Adults 25-54 (1.840 million vs. 1.784 million) and by 150,000 Adults 18-49 (1.294 million vs. 1.144 million).

"World News Tonight" improved year-to-year (w/o 12/18/17) in Adults 18-49 (+49,000/+4% - 1.224 million vs. 1.175 million).

"World News Tonight" slashed its year-to-year margins (w/o 12/18/17) with "NBC Nightly News" in both Adults 25-54 (-80% - 71,000 vs. 349,000) and Adults 18-49 (-99% - 3,000 vs. 372,000).

Season to date, "World News Tonight" ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers at this point of the season for the 3rd year in a row. "World News Tonight" (8.657 million) leads "NBC Nightly News" (8.374 million) by 283,000. In addition, "World News Tonight" is cutting its season margins by double digits in both Adults 25-54 (-35% - 85,000 vs. 131,000) and Adults 18-49 (-47% - 82,000 vs. 156,000), posting its closest Adults 18-49 performance in 11 years - since the 2007-08 season.

For the week, "World News Tonight" beat "CBS Evening News" by 2.548 million Total Viewers, by 547,000 Adults 25-54 and by 357,000 Adults 18-49.

NOTE: On Friday (12/21/18), "World News Tonight" was retitled to "Wrld News Tonite," while the "CBS Evening News" was retitled to "CBS Evening Nws." ABC's and CBS' averages are based on four days (Monday-Thursday).

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

EVENING NEWS (Week of Dec. 17, 2018)

PROGRAM AVERAGES TOTAL VIEWERS ADULTS 25-54 ADULTS 18-49 HOUSEHOLDS
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT 8,781,000 1.5/7; 1,776,000 1.0/6; 1,224,000 5.8/12
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 8,430,000 1.5/8; 1,847,000 1.0/6; 1,227,000 5.4/12
CBS EVENING NEWS 6,233,000 1.0/5; 1,229,000 0.7/ 4; 867,000 4.1/ 9

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 12/17/18, 12/10/18 and 12/18/17. Most Current: 2018 -2019 Season (9/24 - 12/23/18) and 2017-2018 Season (9/25 - 12/24/17). Averages based on regular telecasts.

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