NBC, CBS Both Claim Victory in Sunday Morning News Ratings

“Meet the Press” is No. 1 in key demo, while “Face the Nation” is tops in total viewers

NBC/CBS

Both NBC and CBS can say that their respective Sunday morning news shows are No. 1.

Let’s explain.

CBS’ “Face the Nation,” which saw John Dickerson take over as host last year, drew its largest audience in 28 years, according to Nielsen estimates. The show delivered an average of 3.7 million viewers a week, making it the top Sunday morning public affairs program in total viewers for the fourth consecutive year.

In addition, “Face the Nation” posted 33 percent year-to-year growth in the adults 25-54 demographic.

Meanwhile, over on NBC, “Meet the Press” was the No. 1 most-watched Sunday morning public affairs show in the adults 25-54 demo, delivering its largest audience since the 2010-2011 season.

The show topped “Face the Nation” by 292,000 viewers in the demo and ABC’s “This Week” by 92,000 for the season. It is up 25 percent year over year, the best such improvement in “Meet the Press” history.

The NBC and CBS shows easily surpassed “This Week” and Fox’s offering, “Fox News Sunday.” “This Week” averaged 3.2 million viewers for the season and 919,000 viewers in the demo. “Fox News Sunday” averaged just 1.5 million total viewers and 456,000 demo viewers.

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