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ABC WORLD NEWS Dramatically Closes Gap with NBC

Related: WORLD NEWS WITH DIANE SAWYER

For the week of January 28, 2013, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 8.67 million Total Viewers and a 1.9 rating/7 share/2.24 million in Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Growing over the previous week (8.26 million and 2.12 million, respectively, on w/o 1/21/13) in Total Viewers (+5%) and Adults 25-54 (+6%) for the 3rd time in the last 4 weeks, "World News" drew its most-watched week of the season, while hitting the season's 2nd-strongest performance in the key adult news demo (week of regular telecasts). In fact "World News" attracted its largest Total Viewer audience in 2 years - since w/o 2/7/11.

"World News" improved the most week to week, as CBS' "Evening News" was down (-3%/-2%), while NBC's "Nightly News" was up slightly (+1%/up less than +1%).

"World News" turned in its most-watched telecast of the season on Monday (9.07 million on 1/28/13, regular telecast).

"World News" Built on the year-ago week in both Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 25-54 (+7%) - 8.03 million and 2.09 million, respectively, on w/o 1/30/12. In addition, "World News" grew the most year to year compared to CBS' "Evening News" (+7%/up less than +1%) and NBC's "Nightly News" (up less than +1%/-2%).

"World News" cut its week-to-week gaps with "NBC Nightly News" by double digits in both Total Viewers (-30% - 672,000 vs. 962,000) and Adults 25-54 (-27% - 310,000 vs. 427,000).

"World News" also narrowed its year-to-year margins with "NBC Nightly News" by double digits in both Total Viewers (-48% - 672,000 vs. 1.29 million) and Adults 25-54 (-38% - 310,000 vs. 503,000)

Season to date, "World News" has increased its Total Viewing audience (+2% - 8.04 million vs. 7.89 million) compared to the same point last season, drawing its most-watched season in 3 years - since the 2009-10 season. In addition, "World News" has narrowed its Total Viewer gap (-21%) with "NBC Nightly News" by double digits for the second year in a row to post its smallest gap (779,000) with the NBC program in 4 years- since the 2008-09 season.

For the week "ABC World News" outdelivered "CBS Evening News" by 1.68 million Total Viewers and by 254,000 Adults 25-54, posting its largest advantages over the CBS program since November (since w/o 11/12/12) and 2nd strongest overall this season.

EVENING NEWS (Week of January 28, 2013)

Total Viewers
Adults 25-54
Households
ABC
8,668,000
1.9/7; 2,242,000
5.8/11
NBC
9,340,000
2.1/7; 2,552,000
6.3/11
CBS
6,990,000
1.7/6; 1,988,000
4.8/ 9

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 1/28/13, 1/21/13 & 1/30/12. Most Current - 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 - 2/03/13) and 2011-2012 Season (9/19/11 - 1/29/12). All averages based on regular telecasts.