Click Here for More Articles on RATINGS WATCH...

ABC's WORLD NEWS Posts its Best Total Viewing Performance in Two Years

Related: WORLD NEWS WITH DIANE SAWYER, ABC

For the week of January 7, 2013, "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" averaged 8.49 million Total Viewers and a 1.9 rating/7 share/2.22 million in Adults 25-54, according to NielsenMedia Research.

"World News" saw week-to-week increases in both overall viewers and in the key adult news demo (8.48 million and 2.10 million on w/o 12/31/12). In fact, with its most-watched week of the season (regular telecasts), the ABC evening newscast posted its highest Total Viewer performance in nearly 2 years - since w/o 2/7/11. In addition, "World News" turned in its 2nd-best news demo number of the season (regular telecasts).

"World News" improved on the same week last year among both Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults25-54 (+2%) - 8.29 million and 2.18 million, respectively, on w/o 1/9/12. Further, "World News" has seen its Total Viewing audience grow year-to-year in 6 of the last 7 weeks.

For the 2nd week in a row, "World News" narrowed the gap "NBC Nightly News" from the year-ago week by double-digits in Total Viewers (-15% - 822,000 vs. 969,000).

Season-to-date, "World News" has increased its Total Viewing audience (+2%, 7.94 million vs. 7.80 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 (-16%) with "NBC Nightly News" by double-digits for the second year in a row to post its smallest gap (782,000) with the NBC program in 4 years- since the 2008-09 season.

"ABC World News" outperformed "CBS Evening News" by 1.35 million Total Viewers and by 186,000 Adults 25-54, posting its largest Total Viewer lead in 5 weeks - since w/o 12/3/12.

"ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" airs at 6:30 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network. Michael Corn is the executiveproducer of the broadcast. Follow Diane Sawyer and the "World News" team online: @DianeSawyer; @ABCWorldNews; facebook.com/DianeSawyer; facebook.com/WorldNews.

EVENING NEWS (Week of January 7, 2013)

Total Viewers Adults 25-54 Households
ABC 8,488,000 1.9/7; 2,224,000 5.7/11
NBC 9,310,000 2.2/7; 2,594,000 6.3/11
CBS 7,138,000 1.7/6; 2,038,000 4.8/ 9

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 1/7/13, 12/31/12 & 1/9/12. Most Current - 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 - 1/13/13) and 2011-2012 Season (9/19/11 - 1/8/12). All averages based on regular telecasts.