David Muir’s ABC Newscast Beats NBC ‘Nightly News’ for Third Consecutive Week

“World News Tonight” attracts 7,891,000 viewers vs. 7,737,000 for NBC; “Nightly” retakes 25-54 demo

David Muir, Brian Williams

ABC’s “World News Tonight” with David Muir won for the third week in a row in total viewers, beating NBC “Nightly News” with substitute anchor Lester Holt.

“WNT” attracted 7,891,000 viewers vs. NBC’s 7,737,000. CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley trailed with 6,780,000 viewers. Pelley’s broadcast saw the most year-to-year growth, up eight percent in total viewers.

Nightly did re-take the coveted 25-54 demo, achieving a narrow victory with 1,795,000 viewers vs. ABC’s 1,788,000.

The third-consecutive victory for Muir begins a trend; Lester Holt had kept the total viewers lead for two months while filling in for the suspended Brian Williams, but Muir broke NBC’s five-year total viewers streak during the week of March 30th.

An insider told TheWrap the victory for ABC is definitely great for bragging rights, but the real game- changer will be the demo race, which advertisers zero in on, particularly with the upfront season fastly approaching.

Brian Williams is serving out the third month of his NBC suspension–new NBC News chairman Andy Lack will make deciding his fate priority number one as he embarks on his new role.

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