ABC News executives are smiling wide Tuesday as ratings for the second quarter show “World News Tonight” with David Muir won total viewers and the advertising-coveted 25-54 demo over NBC “Nightly News.”
The total viewers victory is the first quarter victory for ABC in eight years, when Charlie Gibson was anchor.
WNT attracted 7,853,000 viewers and 1,902,000 demo viewers; Nightly News drew 7,810,000 viewers and 1,829,000 demo viewers; CBS Evening News brought in 6,675,000 viewers and 1,488,000 demo viewers.
ABC also won the 18-49 demo with 1,307,000 viewers. The victory for ABC marks a turning point in the evening news race, keeping its momentum going from the first quarter, when it broke Nightly News’ five-year total viewers winning streak.
During the second quarter, Lester Holt was still a fill-in anchor for the suspended Brian Williams, without the advantages of promotion or branding around him.
The third quarter, beginning Wednesday, will be Holt’s first as the permanent anchor of Nightly News.